t LI BRARY (!F ClMxI^E SS. i 



fUMTED STATICS OF AMERICA. f I 



X 



LIFE BELOW: 



IN SEVEN POEMS. 



LIFE BELOW: 



IN SEVEN POEMS. 



Jjy ^Ccrfc ^"a>v<2 M^ iLco^yrh/ffi^ii 




o NEW YORK: A 

PUBLISHED BY HURD AND HOUGHTON. 

CtamljriTiac' 3£libers(tjc ^ress. 

1868. 






Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by 

HuBD AND Houghton, 

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of 

New York. 



To 
HIS PARENTS, 

WHOSE GENEROUS CONFIDENCE HAS ALLOWED THE AUTHOR 
MEANS TO CULTIVATE AND TIME TO RIPEN 

2EJ)ese first fruits of ^rt, 

THEY ARE MOST AFFECTIONATELY 

DEDICATED. 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE 

The Scale : Do ........ i 

Choosing 5 

Re 45 

Daring 47 

Mi 85 

Doubting 87 

Fa 121 

Learning 123 

Sol 161 

Loving 163 

La 199 

Serving . 201 

Si 247 

Watching 249 

Do .285 



LIFE BELOW. 

THE SCALE; 

DO. 

» T PURPOSED to relate some tales of life 

X Which yet should be the tales of more than one, 
For they should be of soul-life, not of sense. 
Our deeds extern are transient. There is life, 
More than what smiles at home, and bends at church, 
And bows upon the street ; beneath things seen. 
Their unseen, constant, universal cause, 
The life, which good men hope shall be eternal. 
Express'd in act, forever flexible 
To circumstance, it still is lord of forms. 
As child, it starts to gain its choice: opposed, 
Retires ; then, planning wiser ways, anon 
It starts to do, anon shrinks back to think. 
Till alternating strife be call'd to rest 
With that Eternal Cause who thus allow'd 
Experience to apprehend and aid 
The onward course of universal gain. 
Of such life did I purpose to relate. 
Not all unmoved by consciousness of power, 
Relying still upon that Source which gave. 
And shall give greater, strength to all who strive 
With what they have." So spake the man of books. 
The village author, 'mid a little throng. 
At sunset gather'd, ere dispersing home, 
I ' 



2 INTRODUCTION. 

To chat of news, around the blazing hearth 

That warm'd a small town's post-office and store. 

" Alas," he added then, " this ruthless war ! 

You know my scribe went last week, and that scribe 

Was versed in all notes of my earlier life 

From which I'd thought to frame these later tales. 

I could not keep him back, had gone myself 

But for this palsied hand ; and, yet, 'twas hard ! 

No healthy hand to loan in all the town — 

My work, you see, like yours, must wait for peace." 

" No ! " said the young store-clerk, *' there I protest : 

The business hours aside, this hand is yours." 

The words call'd forth his master : " Not too fast ! 

From dawn to dark 's enough for your slight frame ; 

That too with double work already, boy." — 

And thence a brisk discussion sprang apace. 

Till, in the end, each of the company 

Had vouch'd himself best fitted for a scribe. 

The old man smiled ; nor would accept, at first ; 

But last he said to waxing earnestness : 

*' This war, at least, shall yield to compromise ! 

My tales begin with youth, and end with age \ 

Haply, if my scribes fit these spheres of thought 

They'll aid the younger, and the older too. 

Let me select, according, then, to years ; 

And choose the boy first ! " So it was agreed : 

And furthermore ; that each, when he had written. 

Should read his part before a social club 

Form'd of those present and their families. 

Some time had pass'd ; and then the young store-clerk 

Seem'd taught in riddles, and in strange conceits ; 

And had grown well-nigh famous in the town. 

To those well versed his self-vague talk appear'd 

Like one's who'd rummaged not digesting parts 

Of rat-gnaw'd libraries. In after time. 

More wisely could the wise surmise its source. 



INTRO D UCTION. 

For he had raved of mystic numbers, thus : 

" Like to the seven days that mark the week, 

Of scales, men trace in music, stars and plants. 

And dream in heavens, hells, and worlds ; as tho' 

Nature herself had tallied what she'd made ; 

Seven stratas counting through the senseless rock, 

Seven forms in life, as many in each form. 

The last one man, in Nature's Sabbath-time, 

Living, perchance, seven spheres of history — 

All men, and each ! " — and one old carper 'd told : 

" As tho' a rock and spirit were alike ; " 

How " he'd said : ' man and nature had one life ! 

Augustine, Plato, and Pythagoras, 

Had they not deem'd the soul a number ? sphere ? — 

Tho' yet, who were full wise enough to read 

Down underneath rough angles and rude lines 

To methods mathematical, that speak. 

Like children's faces of the soul beneath, 

Deep traits of this divine philosophy ? ' " 

Thus did the youth pass for a clever lad. 

To make the girls laugh, and to bluff the boys, 

Long ere the evening came when his proud mother 

His neck-tie pinn'd, and kiss'd his cheek, and said : 

" Now dear, and don't forget — read loud enough ! " 



POEM FIRST. 



CHOOSING. 



LIFE hangs poised on slender moments ; all 
Eternity on Time ; 
And the still small voice betokens presence of a 

sway sublime. 
Tread, as light as dreams, may wake the soul's 

hush'd spontaneity. 
Rouse the source whence Thought and Action issue 

toward their destiny, — 
Toward the good, if moved by footsteps echoed 

from a path of weal ; 
Toward the ill, if slyly summon'd by the craft of 

baser zeal. 
It may be a sound, a fragrance, or a light, glides 

near the mind ; 
Something stirs a wish within us ; something gleams, 

we glance to find ; 
And we start ; and then press forward, past op- 
posing scenes of youth ; 
Past all life, perchance, till Old Age falls to spring 

the gates of Truth. 



6 CHOOSING : 

II. 

Everything, in art or nature, robed in rich or rude 

attire, 
Gathers beauty by possessing power to prompt some 

pure desire. 
For the Will commands her own charms ; and, from 

wide-distracted throne. 
Waives all claim of rival suitors for a pure Desire 

alone. 
Thus, we find, a fairer fancy blooms in dear but 

distant views. 
Through which blind or banish'd poets search a 

dream of halo hues. 
Thus, we find, when Evening Shadows bend about 

the couch of Day, 
Life, array'd in fresh attraction, lies along the grow- 
ing gray. 
For the dim relief of objects woos our Wonder and 

Surmise, 
And the Sibyl Stars invite to solve the tale of 

silent Skies ; 
While the zest of Aspiration, as more sovereign 

plans evolve. 
Crowns the brow of meek Conjecture with the flush 

of bold resolve. 

III. 

Is it strange if, such an evening, through the smoul- 
dering lines of strife. 

Such an evening, far and hazy, loom the sweetest 
scene of life "i 



A POEM. 7 

Is it strange if Memory, gazing through a wake of 

stormy . skies ; 
Or an older Mind recall it, clad in graver, wiser 

guise ? 

IV. 

Sunset waned ; and I sat watching, with sensations 
strange and wild. 

Till I grew a thing mysterious, and too grand to 
be a child. 

I was not of earth, or heaven, but was one with 
that mild light, 

Which had veil'd in awe the hills before the sacred 
steps of Night ; 

And, through all the clouds that floated, rose the 
forms of angels fair ; 

And I seem'd to feel their whisper in the warm 
breath of the air. 

Far adown the west I traced them, till their min- 
gling lines were brought 

Nigh a boundless mountain, gleaming o'er a peace- 
ful sea, I thought ; 

Where anon were purple islands, lax in languid 
Autumn-noon ; 

And, a-sail the azure distance, came in view the 
crescent moon. 

On her stilly course I linger'd, till, ^with joy and 
marvel great, 

I descried a wondrous city, glimmering past a 
golden gate ! 



8 CHOOSING : 

V. 

Ah, it was a wondrous city, that bright city in the 

cloud ! 
How its towers and turrets glisten'd, with what 

wealth of light endow'd ! 
How the walls which coil'd around it glow'd adown 

their winding belt ! 
And how flash'd the dancing crystals, which about 

the bulwarks dwelt ! 
Underneath that sight, triumphant, stretch'd a tem- 
pest black along ; 
'Twas a diapason, rolling, rich but rough, below a 

song ! 
For, above, in countless number, press'd the domes, 

and pierced the spires, — 
Domes, more pure than pearly altars, sanctified by 

Heaven-lit fires ! 
Domes, of form to rival dreaming ! domes, of every 

higher hue ! 
Join'd with spires from darkness pushing, till the 

peaks effulgence knew ! 
Spires, like prayers, from vapors struggling, gaining 

glory round the Bar ! 
Spires, like Hope, to falter never, till it touch the 

fated star ! 
Then, deep down — my gaze profaning — what 

retreats for bliss I found, 
'Mid the weird-illumined mansions, and the peer- 
less streets around ! 
Streets, as shafts of light, far shooting, dying like 

the sun from view, 



A POEM. . J) 

Through a shade of forests, brilliant still by radiant 
fruit that grew ! 

Beauteous city ! how I loved it ! how forgot this 
present star ! 

There content, like him of Pisgah, with the prom- 
ise, tho' so far ! 

VI. 

When, at length, to self returning, my Desires grew 
mutinous ; 

And too rebel Meditation to their tocsin murmur'd 
thus : 

" Six years ; it is long to languish, with no teacher 
but my God, 

In these stolen hours of study, snatch'd from swine, 
and sweat, and sod. 

Wherefore was I left an orphan, and a ward, with- 
out a joy. 

To that sateless judge ? His Satan seem'd a better 
breed of boy ! 

I suppose — a frame so feeble — he had hopes that 
it would die ; 

And so bound me out as plowboy, to make friend- 
ship with the sky ! 

Bound to those with mood repulsive ; finding water 
for the fire ; 

Yes, a hiss for every spark that holds a glimmer- 
ing of desire ! 

Heaven above : one thing I pray for ; not release 
from toil and pain ; 

But the work that meets both cheerly, facing still 
a chance for gain. 



TO CHOOSING: 

Lead me toward those waiting regions, thick with 

thought, by man unknown, 
Fining space, from orb and orbit, through to glory 

round the Throne ; 
Lead me up, that I may find there, Hght which 

has not been possess'd ; 
Light, to guide Earth's wavering Faith ! a cynosure 

of certain rest ! 

VII. 

" Vain, oh, vain, this hope. Its cheer is hollow, as 

w^ere demon's mirth. 
This is weak — to sigh for Heaven when one 's 

made to scrape the Earth ! 
Better far to keep the level ; turn from hights 

suggesting lore ; — 
Wisdom makes the vulgar worthless ; — herd with 

brutes here, evermore ! 
Shall I ? Ears, no lie can lull you to that distant, 

holy strain ! 
Eyes, no lower gloss can dim you to the stars 

which o'er you reign ! 
Toil-worn Hands, right dainty fingers serve a soul 

less coarse than we ! 
Thorny Ways, the Palace carpet hugs no richer 

blood than ye ! 
Storms that rage, your rivals gather here beneath 

as restless brows ! 
And their thunders crave report from something 

else than grating plows ! 



A POEM. II 

VIII. 

" Oh, how oft, when I've been lying underneath 

the great oak-trees, 
Or mysterious stars of midnight, I have dream'd 

of endless ease ! 
And of that, divine, had visions, fill'd for compre- 
hension vast. 
So that mine, with utmost effort, caught but por- 
tions, as they pass'd ; 
Portions yet of charm so potent, that, renewing 

every main, 
Thought would still soar on to match them, and 

would soar, and soar in vain. 
Till, to its bewilder'd yearning, all things mixt, to 

merge in shade. 
Through which sank the train of grandeur, and the 

hope which found it fade. 
Woe of mortals ; to be grounded, 'mid the mists 

of one small sphere. 
While bright beacons, from high havens, throng the 

midnight, far and near ! 
Oh but soul ! in sight of Heaven, favoring winds 

cannot forsake ! 
Life — it moves, in tardy progress, tho' so slowly 

grow its wake. 
Onward ! Oft some keener thinker, pressing through 

a myth, long sought. 
There reveals the flags of wisdom far along the line, 

of thought ! " 



12 CHOOSING: 

IX. 

With emotions, ne'er allaying, I remain'd ; and 

watch'd that cloud. 
Till those living forms seem'd buried in a gently 

gather'd shroud. 
Yet, my gaze still rested on it : naught ! oh ! naught 

of good can die ! 
But, for changeful resurrection, sinks to rise, and 

purify ! 
Blessings grieve us, when they leave us ; but they 

leave no sunless gloom : 
Springs a new life of reflection : and more beau- 
teous thought to bloom. 
While enwrapt in contemplation, lo ! came suddenly 

a change ! 
All the width of western heaven drew apart, with 

flashing strange ! 
Whence pure Clouds in speed assembled, as if, thus, 

to screen from me 
Tens of thousand flames, which lit a passage — 

through Infinity ! 
Rapture then my brain bewilder'd ! Every thought 

to passion flew ! 
" Surely ! surely ! Celebration Brightness crowns 

with halo new ! 
It may be an angel greeting to some saint ! " — 

Then, lost in flight, 
Flits this whim, where lights another ! for behold ! 

a stranger sight ! 
Swift, from flash to flash augmenting, as a torrent 

seeks the sea. 



A POEM. 13 

Streams that fire from out the distance, surging, 

surging nearer me ! 
Now, 'twas my whole spirit flutter'd. " Here's the 

World's last ransom brought ! 
Crampt ! how crampt these fleshly fetters I Yes, 

they burst ! they burst ! I thought. 
Near such end, the wish grew gentler, satisfied to 

wait a time ; 
Satisfied ; for that, which lured it, sent before a 

soothing chime. 
Sweet it was, with deeper sweetness, than our mor- 
tal breathing brings ; 
Speaking peace, profound and lasting, as the love, 

from which peace springs ; 
Full subduing all the being, in a spell, resistless 

found 
xA.s the wreck'd and sinking sailor feeling silence 

steal around ; 
Nor can memory retain it; better bid yon meadow 

nook 
Hold the whole great rain, which blest it, on its 

journey down the brook. 

X. 

Ay ! when men, who speak, directing toward a 

spring of healing truth. 
Toward a stimulant of beauty, pure to stay an 

endless youth. 
While attempting, falter, blunder, and, with sense 

dividing wide, 
Void of close and clear expression, end where 

almost all deride. 



14 CHOOSING : 

Blame them not ! the case is human ! words with 

ease bear thoughts below, 
But they fail beneath the press of higher themes, 

which overflow ! 
Many guiding views beyond us loom but dimly 

understood : 
Many schemes are hatch'd to famish where our im- 
perfections brood. 
Oh ! how oft, e'en stirr'd to rescue dearest friend 

from threaten'd woe. 
Or to point him toward successes, we have yearn'd 

that wish to show ; 
When the lack of tact or temper has equipt advice 

amiss. 
Frail as Truth that leans and whispers hob-and- 

nob with Prejudice. 
And how often, as the sunshine, or the lightning 

blazed within. 
We would save a gleam of duty for the virtue of 

our kin, 
When, if brighter could reflect it, we, at least, were 

dull as night. 
Striving ever, failing ever, half our view to mirror 

right ! 
Foremost of Endowments precious ! Faith fails 

not, that can but feel ! 
Yet for Faith, how blest the mission, that can, too, 

the near reveal ! 
Station'd where, 'mid doubt and darkness. Thought, 

which moves through mystery. 
Longs to point to things alluring, longs to spy, 
what others see, 



A POEM. 15 

There, with gifts from Heaven enkindled, flashing 

Hght to Teaching's aid, 
And, for anxious Quest, disclosing Truth that Uves 

beyond the shade ! 

XL 

This for preface : That remember'd somehow thus, 

in measures, ran : 
Varied aye to changeful music, not restricted by 

the plan : 
But each single voice swell'd freest ; either past all 

discord sweet ; 
Or with depth, below disturbing, tuned to harmony 

complete. 
Thus the words : and seem'd to purport praise to 

One of Sovereign Might, 
Recognized by eager senses as the Royal Source 

of Light: 

XII. 

" Hail ! hail ! hail ! 

Eternal Glory, hail ! 
Ye powers of right, attend the Light, 

With praise for every ray ! 
All, all were blight, and no delight, 

Without that blissful sway ! 
Before 'd begun a star or sun. 

High Splendor fill'd the Throne, 
When, ere the birth of air or earth, 

Jehovah lived alone. 

Gleam ! gleam ! gleam ! 

And ever brighter beam ! 
Far, far away, through endless day. 

Invoke the growing theme ! 



1 6 CHOOSING: j 

" Hail ! hail ! hail ! | 

Infinite Goodness, hail ! | 

From Heavenly hight, through day, through night, I 

Down, down to deepest Hell ; ; 
From central Throne to vacant zone, 

Thy radiant Mandates dwell. 
Move forth in might, where all is bright ! 

And cheer, where sometimes shade ! ] 

In weeping sphere, the rainbow rear ! \ 

Then, pierce to darker glade ! i 

Shine ! shine ! shine ! i 

The universe is thine ! ] 

Through blackest Hell, burst, full and fell, j 

Like lightning, flame divine ! \ 

I 

"Hail! hail! hail! I 

Almighty Power, hail ! i 

At thy command, 'mid blazing grand, | 

t The holy army hies ; j 

With flash of worth about the earth, ] 

Pursuing lust and lies. -i 

Through wind, and wave, and crystal cave, \ 

They charge, in far control ; 
And, marshall'd round, with thunder sound, 

The Tempest tongues enroll. i 

Wail ! wail ! wail ! 

Ye powers of darkness quail ! 
No respite till the Wrong is still. 

And Foulness found — to fail ! \ 

1 

"Hail! hail! hail! ; 

Unchanging Promise, hail ! \ 

O'er storms and jars, the flickering stars \ 

Burn on, our long fear through. \ 
Aurora lights her giddy hights. 

The comet cleaves the blue. 
On sand and sea the Shadows flee. 

Awaking winks the Dew. " 



A POEM. 17 



The morn is nigh. The breeze is high. 

Far break the Fogs anew ! 

Speed ! speed ! speed ! 

And gild the gloomy mead ! 
Through every clime call up the prime 

Of holy Creed and Deed ! " 



XIII. 

Ere the Echoes, far excited, learn'd the tones of 

half the lay, 
I descried the choir that chanted, treading down 

their starry way : — 
Such a sight, as all have witness'd, roused by 

Morn's first Herald-Gleam, 
Floating up the edge of slumber, in a just awaking 

dream — 
Angel forms, no man could number, stretching on- 
ward through the light. 
Round a chariot, framed of splendor, drawn by 

steeds of wavering white. 
Soft of step, which skipt the vapors ; and with wings 

of texture rare. 
Whence there throbb'd a murmur'd music, as they 

lightly struck the air. 
In the chariot sat a Being, fair, beyond the reach 

of rhyme. 
Fledged for dauntless flight of fancy, to recall the 

mien sublime. 

XIV. 

While I kneel'd, entranced, she reach'd me, then, 
as angel bands disperse, 



1 8 CHOOSING: 

With a low command, so love-full it could lull the 

universe, 
" Come," said she, " and sit beside me." And I 

rose, I wis not how. 
And within the place was seated. I had not known 

bliss till now ! 
'Thwart the earth, and through the vapors, over 

land and lake it springs. 
With a swift but gentle motion, marshall'd on by 

beating wings ; 
Till, through long horizons pulsing, flash'd and 

pass'd us beacon gleams. 
And uncertain forms of twilight, floating storm- 
toss 'd lightning streams. 

XV. 

Then, full much, I long'd to ask her, where we 
were, how far my home ; 

But while yet I dared not, kindly, knowing whither 
thought did roam. 

She replied : " My child, that homestead, it is fixt 
within a star ! 

We have left the bounds of matter, here is burst 
each prison bar. 

Out from which, with straiten'd senses, and a sad- 
dening sway of strife. 

Souls, like convicts, through their grating, steal a 
luring glimpse of life. 

Here are regions, where the spirit, freed from fet- 
tering time and space, 

Wings her flight through scenes eternal ; reading 
thought as face reads face 5 



A POEM^ 19 

Gaining wisdom from the wise, who wonder with 

sincerity, 
Pure, beyond the darkening mien that decks an ill 

supremacy. 
In the world, brains mould to bodies, but across 

the border line. 
Royal minds must share their purple : slaves with 

kings become divine. 

XVI. 

" Oh ! if but one spirit vision flared to reach the 
groping man, 

In one glance were comprehended more than life- 
long search can scan ! — 

Soft, my steeds. — The stars are slumbering. There 
are dreams afloat to-night. 

Gaze, and gain, while passing through them, seg- 
ments of angelic sight ! 

Circle these with all bright fancies, forged in all 
these burning spheres. 

From Arcturus, past Orion, far as where the Cross 
uprears ; 

Conjure clear as minds that muse them, diverse as 
their interest ; 

Add completed recollection ; and all thoughts that 
each suggest ; 

Then, conceive a saint's possession thus matured 
from hight to hight. 

Naught too full for God to render from resources 
infinite ! " 



2Q CHOOSING : 

XVII. 

As she spoke, along the gloaming, there appear'd 

what seem'd a grove. 
Shading maddest mixtures, thronging back through 

labyrinths unwove ! 
Fountains, arbors, caves and mountains, wolds and 

wildernesses grand. 
Hung to wild fantastic fortunes o'er a dizzy dearth 

of land ; 
Based on clouds, all diamond-dappled, emerald 

meads and mottled meres, 
Spann'd by bounding balustrades, which mesh'd the 

loops of spray-shot piers ; 
Trees, heaven-high, where swung blithe moonbeams 

rock'd as on Behemoth's bed ; 
Velvet fields, with tender grasses humbled 'neath a 

fairy's tread ; 
Flowers and fruit, which flush'd and nodded where 

alternate Autumn-sheen, 
Like a flood of amber, whelm'd thick twilight-tan- 
gled evergreen ; 
Houses, gardens, tombs and temples, flags and 

fleets, and, round them swept, 
Masses, mazes of inventions, every whim, e'er 

wrought or wept ; 
Birds and beasts, all shapes, all sizes, dancing, 

dozing, clamoring, shy, 
Strown, as if on waves of vapors, shored afar in 

searchless sky ! 



A POEM. 2f 

XVIII. 

Soon she named, about the forest, forms : — some 

boldly faced, some fled — 
Snow-white Nixies, with pink Pixies, pilfer 'd from 

lone baby bed : 
Jinn and Shedeem, mask'd and capering, wild as 

clowns in circus rings : 
Peris, giddy with full fragrance, flirting down on 

dove-like wings : 
Then, below them, Neck and Kelpie, match'd to 

deluge plump Storm-Karl : 
Drakes, a-see-saw rill-rockt lilies, dodging from the 

Merman's snarl : 
Drunk Leprechaun, dash'd for brogue, and tussling 

with each huger swell. 
As he split the laughing waters in a love-warpt 

fairy-bell : 
On the ledges Dwarfs a-droning, and, seduced from 

secret cave, 
Duergar, the little scamp, with mien as scrimpt as 

gold he gave ! 
Deevs, beneath thick horns and eyebrows, envying 

Korred's shaggy head : 
Ruths, and Throlls, and Trows, in gray green, 

tossing pigmy caps of red : 
Greeting shrunken sly Hobgoblins, hitch'd to half 

the cellar's ware : 
Danish Nis, and Gallic Latin, all of Bedlam crowd- 
ing there : 
Brownie, brave by plaid and thistle ! Cobalt, bloom- 
ing big with beer ! 



22 CHOOSING: 

Braggart snobs, astride a lion — whelp, you'd know, 
of some new peer ! 

And the Elves, like wintry smoke, a-wheel to Hog- 
folk's low refrain ; 

Or, detected, swiftly skulking toward the bolstering 
leaves amain ! 

XIX. 

But I turn'd to stranger marvel: — just beyond my 

finger's end, 
Lilted near the weest wonder that could bid the 

eyelids bend ! 
One might deem it a stray snow-flake, sliding down 

the thin star-rays : 
Truth reveal'd a cunning chariot, fill'd with cheery 

little fays ; 
And up through the shifting atoms of the air that 

lay between 
Oozed a tiny ditty, tuning from within its sheeny 

screen. 

XX. 

" To-night, to-night, my fairies white, 

We'll rig a jolly spree ! 
But first a tune to tease the Moon — 

She's pointing there you see ! 
Ho ! ho ! who'd own that dewy throne, 

Or tent the spider weaves ? 
Ho ! ho ! who'd go where roses grow, 

Or romp the springy leaves ? 
Her tinsel Tags may flirt and play, 
Till all the calyx crush away ! 

Who cares ? — I dont ! — Do you ? 



A POEM. 23 

" But there's a maid whom Love has laid — 

Ha ! ha ! a dainty bit ! — 
Aboard a dream, with brain a-scream ! 

Queen Mab 's a wicked wit ! 
Come ! come ! a jump ! and land a-thump ! 

To dance about her heart ! 
'Twill beat and beat ; ha ! ha ! how sweet ! 

My soles are all a-smart ! 
We'll tickle her neck, and tickle her toes, 
And tickle her little lips under her nose ! — 

Who cares ? — I don't ! — Do you ? 

" That mourner grim, we'll bother him. 

He tugs too stiff a brow ! 
We'll whiz and whiz about his phiz, 

And twit the mouth, I vow : 
Then hide and seek in hair so sleek, 

And down the wrinkles spare ; 
And ply his eye, if dry, too dry. 

And slide the lashes there ; 
And when big drops begin to flow, 
How we will dodge the flood, oh ho ! 

Who cares ? — I don't ! — Do you ? 

" Hurrah ! for peep of Earth asleep ! 

We'll twist things, ere we're flown ! 
The sire shall be a baby wee : 

The lass a lad alone : 
The parson mad : the plagued a-glad : 

The beaus a balky team : 
And when they wake, oh ! how they'll shake 

To find it all a dream ! 
They'll think of wind, and fly, and flea ; 
But not of you ! and not of me ! 

Who cares ? — I don't ! — Do you ? " 



24 CHOOSING: 

XXI. 
Charm'd to hear, i bent me nearer ; but, dismay ! 

off dodged the toy, 
Shaken, Hke a note of laughter, down the stiffening 

breath of joy. 
"Cruel thing!" cried I, provoked then: "Witchery 

of condensed delight ! 
Big Earth all too weak to find it, what an insult 

to the sight ! " 

XXII. 

Soon I mused : this whole odd \dsion might be an 

imagined one : 
Men had deem'd full half life's fabric, forms, by 

fever'd Fancy spun. 
" Are all vain," at length I question'd ; " do men 

dream thus, year on year, 
See and hear, yet no real footsteps, naught to rouse 

the eye or ear } " 
" Men who live by sight," she answer'd, " doubt it ; 

but no doubt can sear 
Back of proof a live conviction, that some Spirit- 
world is near : 
And men feel it, all alone, and when the midnight 

hour is pass'd. 
And they feel it when uprightness bends before too 

pressing blast : 
Conscience ! 'tis- the soul's sensorium ; God reveal'd 

to consciousness : 
And remorse ! the sinner cringing from the touch 

of Holiness. 



A POEM. 25 

XXIII. 

" There is One, the heart knows truly, nor has 

heard of Him alone. 
But of ranks, which grade all Being, upward toward 

the silent Throne, 
Powers ! — But they usurp no worship ! Evil only 

would parade 
Aught between the world's Creator and the smallest 

creature made. 
And the evil ? Ah ! remember, when men overcome 

through prayer. 
Not with flesh and blood they wrestle, but with 

powers which rule the air ! 
Helpt, far more than ofttimes conscious, by that 

Life which, all unseen. 
Whirls the star, and waves the sea, and works the 

most self-govern'd mien ; 
And can send, for rare communion, clothed in rai- 
ment all too white 
For the ken of mortal vision, those who force the 

fiend to flight." 

XXIV. 

We had left that field of fancy, and had reach'd a 

star-lit lawn. 
And beyond its nether borders, Vapors, pallid from 

near dawn. 
Cling about a crystal temple, rising from an ocean 

black. 
Pure and restful pledge of promise, past the moody 

waves' attack. 



26 CHOOSING: 

Now we sail the mist-flung waters, cheer'd to watch 

where Clouds release, 
Pedestal and pediment, and then entablature and 

frieze. 
Darting 'neath high pearly pendants, and the great 

towers' jasper quoin, 
We alight at lofty steps, and ranks of gold-mail'd 

wardens join ; 
Who, in stately silence parting, 'twixt the long lines 

pass us on 
Toward the shimmering shields and sabres of a 

phantom garrison ; 
And the towering portico, a cliff of shafts, which 

far upheaves. 
Till the very heavens seem suspended from its 

lordly eaves, 
Drooping with thin starry mantle, deep below all 

mezzanine, 
Whence aspiring Clouds, exhausted, seek, with zest> 

the fretful Brine. 

XXV. 

At its base a sire with thin locks gray through 

many a distant year. 
Gazing 'neath the columns calmly, questions, as we 

venture near : 
" Who is this you bring, my sister, who is this ? 

Ah, yes ! I trace 
Restless eyes and flushing cheeks here ; yes, ah 

yes, an earthly face ! " 
" One more youth, whose aspiration, as I rode full 

high at eve, 



A POEM. 27 

Craved for light ; and, aided hither, would not now 

the portal leave." 
"Aspiration," quoth he, mildly; "many a bitter, 

bitter Woe 
Is begot by Aspiration. There are easier paths 

below. 
He's the happy man who carries head not higher 

than his home, 
'Tis right hard to stoop forever ! But I keep you 

from the Dome." 

XXVI. 

At his bid, then, two, approaching, quick equipt me 

as a knight : 
And they whisper'd, as they left me — " Faith alone 

can win the Light ! " 
When, at once, wide gates before us open'd, with 

a blaze of day. 
And disclosed a hall resplendent, sweeping through 

long leagues away : 
All about hung heavy incense, floating back to dim 

saloons, 
Where half-hidden lamps swung star-like round the 

base of rare cassoons : 
And dumb, caryatic figures, and chill columns, nude 

of wall. 
Filed far off, like mighty sentries waiting for a 

funeral. 
Through the clouds, which parted often, gleam'd, 

anon, mysterious bands : 
And, from plinth to giant groin, resounded then, 

in low demands : 



28 CHOOSING: 



XXVII. 

" Come to the Love, that is coming now, 

Come from the world away ; 
Come to the source of joy, and bow, 

Bow to the sweetest sway : 
Love ! for the wish that earth deceives ; 
Love ! for the deed that goads and grieves ; 
Love ! for the Heaven the soul receives ; 

Love ! and woe will away. 

" Come to the Truth, that is coming now. 

Come from the world away ; 
Come to the source of right, and bow, 

Bow to the wisest sway : 
Truth ! for the thought that fails and fears ; 
Truth ! for the deed that lives all years ; 
Truth ! for the Heaven that ever cheers ; 

Truth ! and doubt will away. 

" Come to Love and the Truth, attend. 

Come where Life 's begun ; 
Whatever the source, whatever the end, 

Joy and the right are one. 
Love ! and the Truth shall brighter grow. 
Truth! and Love shall warmer glow. 
Love with Truth ! and the soul shall know 

Christ ! and the holy way. 

" Come to Love and the Truth, attend. 

Come where Life 's begun ; 
Whatever the source, whatever the end, 

Life and living are one ! 
Love ! with a zeal that ne'er can rest. 
Truth of the path that brings the best ! 
Love with Truth the home of the blest ! 

God ! and an endless day ! " 



A POEM. 29 

XXVIII. 

As the anthem ceast, — ah ! music of such import 

has no death ! 
Evermore the tones refresh us, Hke a draft of angel 

breath ! — 
As it ceast, I sigh'd instinctive — "Would that I 

such bliss could share ! " 
When, behold, high, high uplifted, I was borne along 

the air, 
On, and on, with slippery swiftness, sliding still to 

swifter flight ; 
Where the tall, white columns stalk past, like 

gigantic ghosts of night ! 
Where the arches fall and heave up, like the soul 

of some lost Sea ! 
Where the lamps streak by, a-quiver ! — lines of 

morning on the lea ! 
Till came dawns of growing splendor ! jambs, which 

burn'd all nearer air ! 
Quick degrees of soft arresting ! and a broad ro- 
tunda there ! 

XXIX. 

Broad it was, and high, and builded, lavish of the 
wealth of space, — 

As all else had been, — a marvel, even in that won- 
drous place ! 

Such a sight Creation's Dawning saw, when, out 
infinity. 

Morning mists exhaled to mingle with the azure, 
that should be : 



so CHOOSING: 

Each diverse abaculus, as bright of gleam, as Chaos- 
mere ! 

Every torus pure and perfect, grand as embryonic 
sphere ! 

Then, with lines of earthly beaut}^, but recall'd to 
canonize, 

Pillars, rivalling resurrection, soar'd to meet resent- 
less skies. 

Far above, the fickle flutings merged in spectral 
capitals : 

And, within the shadowy volute, hover'd hosts of 
terminals ; 

Things of life or carved, I knew not, but, to my 
confused suspense, 

They were holy from high distance : and I bovv'd 
in reverence. 

XXX. 

Underneath the great dome's centre rose a form, 

most like a throne. 
With bright outlines scarce distinguish'd, for a 

Cloud reign'd there alone. 
And about its base an altar stretch'd, environing ; 

a mound. 
White ; and reach'd by steps stupendous, grown 

like coral from the ground. 
Toward the sides, where bulky panels sank to grasp, 

'mid shifting smoke. 
Figures ! — whence 1 — what life, when carved, had 

loom'd to guide their sculptor's stroke ? 
Whose ? — that course disclosed, as if quick sight 

itself did petrify 



A POEM. 31 

Forms of bliss, which bend and point for one who 

hardly yet can spy; 
Lands which lure to peerless grandeur o'er an ocean 

rough and bare ; 
Harbors near, whence crowds entice, past rocks and 

wrecks just hidden there ; 
Ruder seas still wrestled bravely, worn to weary 

calm awhile ; 
And a clear'd expanse of beauty greeting him who 

scans to smile ; 
Then low storms on harsh horizon, brooding woe 

with darkening frown ; 
And beyond, large heavenly mountains, where the 

tempests cringe adown ; — 

XXXI. 

Whose ? — But cloud fell covering these scenes : it 

was offspring of the fire 
Living on the shrine, and lighting all the dome ; 

nor then to tire ; 
Still unspent, I saw it press beyond through aisles, 

as bright as noon. 
Startling thence, from far retirement, many a strange 

seductive boon. 
Shapes on walls by Fresco fabled, myths reveal'd 

to reverent eyes ; — 
What chill marble had congeal'd, clear rills of 

thought from Paradise. 
Endless seem'd these aisles ! and countless ! built 

to meet, around the dome, 
Radiated light, far-glancing, like the dawn from 

ocean foam ! 



32 CHOOSING: 

XXXII. 

Then came statement, that "The aisles, I watch'd 

with wish so masterless. 
Held high limners' recollections of the hosts of 

holiness ; 
Who, on earth, pursued right purpose ; follow'd, 

constant to the tomb j 
Enter'd that ; and thence, emerging, rested past all 

realms of doom. 
Truth had no one mould for virtue ; if I wish'd, I 

might select 
Any course, and might explore it : and, when dis- 
tant, could detect 
What awaits the one who trusts such, when, of 

meaner means bereft. 
Life is summon'd to move forward, with the Spirit 

only left." 
So directed, I walk'd onward, reason lambent by 

the glare 
Of designs, so dense and diverse, some I marvell'd 

should be there, 
For they seem'd too fraught with pleasure ; and I 

pass'd, without debate ; 
Sweet to 'mort exhaustion only are the drafts, which 

recreate. 

XXXIII. 

But, erelong, I came to opening, where a toilful 

wealth of walls 
Told of memory of marts ; and far-exalting council 

halls ; 



A POEM. 2t3 

Where low throngs of coaches, winding 'neath wide 

elms toward mansions bold, 
And bow'd, venerating faces symbolized the worth 

of gold. 
*' Truth," thought I, " needs place to prosper ; and 

all earth obeys the voice, 
That commands earth's richest treasure : I will 

make the gold my choice." 
Qiiick as thinking this, I enter'd, and, a moment 

more, did stray 
Through a scene of wild enchantment ! it was 

Blessing's holiday ! 
But, beyond that, twilights gather'd ; sallow waned 

the painted joys ; 
^Mid the shades gloom'd vice and sickness, coffins, 

ghosts, and gambling boys ! 
Rose a roar of floods before me I sight and sound 

for horror vied ! 
And I turn'd, a-shudder! nowhere, nowhere, now, 

was light to guide ! 
Far seduced thus from the altar, long I sought it, 

faint with fear, 
Ere I spied, then, pondering, wonder'd how it was 

I lost me here.? 
What all meant — first woe ? then darkness .-* and, 

so thinking, it did seem 
Death was blackness and a night, where earthly 

glitter does not dream. 

■ XXXIV. 

Free from this, an aisle allured, so bright I could 
but make it mine ! 
3 



34 CHOOSING: 

There were books whence youth collected clean-cut 

precepts, line on line ; 
And, with pensive power embodied, life breathed in 

by Godlier men, 
Matter, magnetized by touch of nervy chisel, brush 

and pen. 
To my joy, the whitest statues lined the hall \ o'er 

each was crown 
Set with gems ; and these held light which shined 

the whole far space adown. 
" Here," cried I, " is what is wanted ! Why was I 

so blind before ? 
Here's the distance all illumined ! " and I hasten'd 

to explore. 
Grandly, then, the glowing statues rose along the 

lengthening aisle \ 
And dreams, wing'd as by their spirits, bore me 

past my years the while. 
Dreams of self, as ne'er forgotten, but in younger 

memory still 
Throned a living Recollection, sceptred o'er some 

future Will ! 
Life ! life ! life ! — deny it not, — we're made for 

Immortality ! 
Claims, which in the heart swell largest, look to 

longest destiny ! 
While I moved, unseen, the jewels stole and spent 

each other's light, 
Introducing dusk to darkness, dodging doubt to 

crawling night. 
Then cold mists arose embracing, and again the 

waters black 



A POEM. 35 

Hiss'd behind the tired amazement, slowly stumbling 
toward the track. 

" Ah ! " sigh'd I, " those crowns ! — that brilliance 
burns but by a borrow'd might : 

Stars themselves could guide us never were the 
light less Infinite. 

All that brightness lost in wandering ! — there's but 
one source, whence it came. 

Arts ingenious catch and glance it, but the dia- 
mond's not the Flame ! " 

XXXV. 

This time, when I reach'd the great dome, I re- 
main'd somewhile doubt-bound. 

Pledged to lengthy test, ere trusting any hall, what- 
ever found ; 

But near by was place where many linger'd work- 
ing, and I thought 

That less lonely ; and I spied, too, those, far off, 
with lights, who wrought. 

So I paused and watch'd one, sketching what snug, 
slumbering Water dreams 

Of the noiseless Clouds, attending slender wants 
of suckling Streams : 

Flowers dependent, wait beside it : then mild vales 
of misty green 

Reach to tops of Heaven-high mountains : — there 
are some white shrouds between : — 

And, one side, where summer meadows melt to 
yield the golden grain, 

From full school-house, lads and maidens throng to 
aid tired farmer swain : 



36 CHOOSING: 

Nigh to them are chariots waiting, and a sire from 

work cloth rise, 
Greeting Princes from far city, with diploma for the 

wise. 
" General learning ! honor'd labor ! here," said I, 

" is equity : 
Here truth ripens into duty — in the land, like 

nature, free ! 
And, as long as good lives, must live that which 

every joy foreran, 
Love humane ! too Godly high for slight of him 

whom God made man 1 " 
Where so many work'd I enter'd : they did lessen 

one by one. 
And upon the walls ? — Zeal crowding, hinted hatred ! 

strife begun ! 
Wrong that raged ! and track'd a better ! revo- 
lution, past reform ! 
Bringing sword ! flame ! smoke ! destruction ! and 

again light died in storm ! 
Deeply sad was my despair now : I could try no 

other aisle : 
But I sat me down and wept, to think that Love, 

too, could beguile. 

xxxvi. 

Yet, at last, my heart, still anxious, moved me one 

more course to seek ; 
And I turn'd first toward the altar, there, when 

courage dared to speak, 
Faintly questioning, " Oh, tell me, is there not some 

way all bright ? " 



A POEM. 37 



" Yes," said One, " and they who find it, find what 
cannot end in bhght." 

Then, I thought, if in all reason be but one supe- 
rior Choice, 

Surely it could tarry never, summon'd by so kind 
a voice ! 

And, I cried, " Oh ! Being Blessed, if an endless 
home this be. 

Only breathe one word to aid me ; I will ever 
serve but Thee ! " 

xxxvii. 

He replied, then, " Are you kneeling ? well for those 

who kneel in youth. 
Self-reliance falls in failure, but the humbled rise 

with truth. 
Yet dream not for gleams of wisdom, lightening 

everything before : 
For advance of one still finite, there must still be 

waiting more. 
Only signals can be given, these attended, by-and- 

by, 

Through the pure, white air of heaven, shall emerge 
much mystery." 

XXXVIII. 

With these words an altar Server, at the glance of 

His desire. 
Brought a ring, where, like a brilliant, burn'd light 

from the Holy Fire, 
And upon my finger placed it, saying, " Everything's 

your own ! " 



38 CHOOSING : 

Choose the way that seems the brightest ! choose 

and act — as all — alone ! " 
Nearest was the aisle of riches ; and, when far 

within, behold 
That which shades had render'd woeful ! 'twas the 

very Heaven of gold ! 
And the floods that I had fear'd so ! — waters at the 

temple's side 
Weirdly bright I with still more beauteous, near 

shores luring o'er their tide ! 
And the other aisles ? — their story was the same ! 

Ah me ! 'tis strange 
How the lights we carry with us make the scenes 

about us change ! 

XXXIX. 

After Truth, thus far discover'd, as I sought the 

shrine once more, 
Forms of glory gather'd round me, thousands there 

not seen before ! 
Bright they were to indistinctness ! and bright rai- 
ment gave they me : 
And within the folds were jewels it had dazzled 

Noon to see ! 
And my whole soul felt the nearness of that Love 

which lives with rest, 
Free of faith, and full of welcome, from communion 

of the Blest. 
Then, anon, I found me joining in desire, aroused 

awhile 
By far stars, whence souls untiring seek the limits 

which exile. 



A POEM. 39 

Last, at sight of one just dawning, breathed a i 

thought of harmony. 

Sweet with all Love's Spirit-substance, melting forth \ 

to melody ! \ 

XL. ; 

" See, along the azure creeping, j 

See the World ! its ransom reaping, ; 

Leaving sinning, glory winning, ] 

Through the ever brightening way. - 

Oh for Bliss, the deeds of duty : 

Rival boldest boast of beauty ! . 

Onward wend : with steadfast spinning, ^ 

Learn to turn a perfect day. ■; 

Work cannot be dark for aye. j 

Woes but roll to roll away. *. 

" World of Faith, the years are dying. 

Wherein clouds about thee lying ' ■ 

Robe a wondrous waste of sighing, ' 

Empty throes of vain unrest. j 

Be life right, whate'er now bearing, i 

Right endures, when wrong is wearing : 

Right remains, when shrouds are tearing : j 

Faith receives a full bequest ; j 

Wrestles through its prayer for rest ; i 

Dwells with Good, a constant guest ! ; 

j 

" World of Hope, all power provoking, \ 

Reign of Light, all life invoking, \ 

Cheers thee on. Tho' gloom thy cloaking, 1 

Girt it is with rainbow belt. 

Days, when sun and soil are blending, j 

Golden threads from heaven wending, j 

Knit a wealth of thought extending -i 

Round about for promise dealt. 

Night! it blest the soul who felt, 1 

'Twas a star in which he knelt ! \ 

3 



40 CHOOSING: 

" World of Love, Heaven bends above thee 
Fear not clouds ; it can but love thee. 
Cherish'd child, if care is galling, 

Transient care is endless gain. 
Oh there's growth of fadeless power, 
Nursed by Vapors hour on hour ! 
Soon the time shall come, recalling 

No experience sent in vain. 

Fruit ! 'tis that which fills the plain 

When the stormy seasons wane ! 

" Onward World, move onward ever ! 
Love can be the loser never : 
Truth and Error soon shall sever : 

Onward press thy mission through ! 
Holy Deeds thy dangers lighten ! 
Holy Words thy wisdom righten ! 
Holy Scenes, they come to brighten ! 

Angel wings thy way pursue ! 

Powers Divine direct anew ! 

Peace is dawnins: down the blue ! " 



XLI. 

Round and round me swell 'd the chorus, like a 
spring to cleanse all space : 

Widest waves, it seem'd to lift me, down ! down ! 
down ! I fell apace. 

Then, while suddenly the prospect broaden'd out, 
one blazing sea, 

Startling into vague awaking, lo ! those dear delu- 
sions flee ! 

Modest Sleep, that mused so sweetly, 'neath that 
star-gemm'd canopy, 

Had been borne far down the west ; and, pledgv^d 
to ceaseless constancy. 



A POEM. 41 

Follow'd Day, in burnish'd armor, and with suite, 
all worn by fight, 

Still to search, and search for ever for the shrink- 
ing forms of Night. 

" Yes ! 'tis dawn ! it's killed my dreaming ! " sigh'd 
I, as in dew and rill, 

All the van of early Sunbeams shot reflections from 
the hill. 

" But a dream ! " I moan'd. Then, rousing. Thought 
essay'd, as if to find 

Whither turn'd those phantom feet, that left such 
sunny track behind. 

XLII. 

And ! — oh blest frank trust of boyhood ! When 

the soul's young spring wells high ; 
When, within its depth is mirror'd life reflected 

from the sky ; 
Blest the faith in that life mirror'd, tho' from hight, 

one cannot scan ; 
Blest the faith, that, with corruption, man alloy'd, 

remains a man ! 
Yes ! if always strive His Spirit, till all floods o'er- 

whelm the clod. 
Infidelity to self is infidelity to God ! 
Perfidy to deeper nature, where, amid abounding ill. 
Love, the magnet strong for loving, finds some 

truth incarnate still ; 
Truth, diffused through high and humble, finitely 

for finite par ; 
Yielding each a part alone, however bright, whoe'er 

they are ! 



42 CHOOSING : 

XLIII. 
And the whole ? — it would grow plainer, could 

contentious Zeal advance, 
Where impartial Wisdom questions e'en the portion 

of Romance. 
It may be, more right is gather'd through the 

glance, too wild of scheme, 
Than where stupid, prim Compliance nods and naps, 

without a dream. 
It may be, more right's imparted through the love, 

too free of trust. 
Than where mad Intolerance gags a pleading Doubt, 

with naught discust. 
Men, who rouse to revolution, choosing stop and 

key to press, 
Sweep their chords to swell a passion, pent in every 

consciousness. 
Men, who range for reformation, fail of victory, till 

they see 
Both the Truth array'd against them, and the Lie ! 

for Charity, 
First in logic, as in worship, leads the mind's 

triumphant train ! 
Follow Christ ! ere Aristotle ! sway the power be- 
low the brain ! 

XLIV. 

Earth is man's ; but Eden God's, which schemes that 

lost cannot restore : 
Stretch'd for gods, men dwarf to devils ! Time to 

trust to nature more ! 



A POEM. 43 

Seek from friend and from opponent, truth obtain'd 

with candid eye, 
Pure philosophy, supported by some part, which 

each supply, 
Pillars this side, pillars that side, all for temple 

reared to God, 
Let it rise, till light from Heaven cap acquirements 

of the sod ! 
There, the saint and sage together, at the shrine 

of faith shall bend j 
And the boons of better living round the dimless 

dome extend. 

XLV. 

Truth is broad but man is finite. Wide as wish, 
the worldly call \ 

Wide as worlds, the cry for helpers, but one can- 
not turn to all. 

Love, when souls are truthful only, trusts for ray 
of Higher Light, 

Friend for worth, and foe for weakness, and its 
self, to prompt aright ! 

With the least light, what remaineth 1 If a twinkle 
for an aim. 

What but work despite disaster ? work, to save the 
wish from blame .? 

Perfect methods, sure of wisdom, no experience 
can attain : 

Faith, the source and sum of struggle, bringing 
failure, brings to gain : 

He, alone, can hope to prosper, who, to reach per- 
ceptions rare, 



44 CHOOSING: A POEM. . 

Bravely girds, and ventures on, to be ! to do ! at 
least to dare ! 

XLVI. 

What was my work ? Toward the heaven morning 

clouds rose brightening there ; 
Toward the heaven, thought rose brightening, first 

to faith, and then to prayer ! 
Ere it ceast, the farm call sounded ; and I sprung, 

as oft of yore ; 
But, along the well-plow'd hillocks, moved a Power, 

unfelt before ; 
And the wayward Whims of boyhood eagerly flock'd 

round to scan, 
Where the Child, who dream'd at evening, went, at 

morn, to be the Man. 



RE. 



NEXT young among the voluntary scribes — 
Were one to judge by tones of voice alone — 
Was a born prince of all authority. 
Had he no right to it ? Oft would friends say 
That " if the boy could wait, gain gentleness, 
He might grow a wise gentleman ; besides. 
Force, force was something, and he had force now ; 
So if" — of course no joke, but then it pleased — 
That if — like Wisdom's best joke, all the town; 
Threw up his mother's head, his sweetheart's down. 
And tipt his rivals, like the winning yacht 
Just rounding, with a last lurch, at the goal. 
Still, stormy, thunder-lightning-zeal had he. 
Bursting like bustling winds that blow in spring. 
To fright, with death-white frost, life-color'd flowers, 
And wreck each sail that dare presume for aid. 
'Tvvas said one fairly gasp'd to hear him read — 
His way to triumph ! once sway'd by that speed, 
Still faster endward each did wish he'd speed. 
All gave the self-pleased boy what you have seen, 
Taxt like their mirrors still and still to heed, 
Nice men give — asking naught from — girls, young too. 



POEM SECOND. 



DARING. 



LO, long and lonely, stretch'd o'er hill and ! 

dale, j 

Wrapt in her misty robe, reclines the Night ; ] 

No cloud, no leaf a-stir ; moon small and pale ; \ 

And stars scarce twinkling through the frosty \ 

light. . I 

Earth sleeps ; save that about the sea shore white i 

Weak Waves are whispering of some distant Gales ; \ 

And timid insects, bold where none affright, I 

Whose hearts out-beat their fear, lisp loving tales, J 

Secrets they dare not breathe while Sunbeams scout < 

the vales. \ 

.{ 

II. 

But hark ! 'mid stillness now a nervous tread j 

Steals on the dews, a-shiver through the grass. j 

What form, pursued by what presaging dread, i 

Speeds to escape this innocent morass ? ] 

It is a youth whose eager mien, alas, ] 

Bespeaks desire too deep for doubtful years. : 



48 DARING: 

Anon he pauses, and through tiny glass 
Far backward scans ; then, tho' no life appears, 
Anon, with haste renew'd, hies from renewing fears. 

III. 

He flies from home ; not first nor last, I ween, 

Forsaking friends for Midnight's chill embrace : 
Not first nor last whom dawning day has seen 

A wanderer, stay'd by no familiar face. 

Say Homes bereaved ! can long years e'er dis- 
place 
The melancholy vacancy of hours 

When memory strays aback, with painful pace. 
Whither life bloom'd to promise such sweet flowers, 
Ere one harsh storm snapt off" the buds that blest 
your bowers ? 

IV. 

Ah sad to find the germ of love and care 

Grow but to sting the hand that Avould caress ! 
Still sadder the lone dearth of that despair 

No more retaining life it would redress ! 

Yet, here, one hope remains, — that, when some 
stress 
Of needful years provoke to earnest plan, 

A headstrong will, in youth so masterless, 
May rouse, with sovereign power to sway his clan, 
From mood with spirit high, inspiring strength for 
man. 



A POEM. 49 

V. 

Think not a paltry purpose stirr'd the soul 
Of him now hastening o'er this dusky plain. 

His was a youth whence fancy spied a goal 

For good alone, that gleam'd and gleam'd amain 
Where fact each morn beheld each effort vain. 

For this, all else his spirit had resign'd, 
Deep-sworn the one bright object to attain, 

Through deeds of present life to bless mankind, 

And for the future leave a standard pure behind. 

VI. 

His was a state where freedom's dawn did bring 

With widening views of beauty, those of blight. 
There manhood reign'd ; and each, enthroned a king. 

Made wrong more wrong through more of over- 
sight ; 

A nation his, where race a race could slight. 
With ill in self, and in the things it brought ; 

For man is man, whatever hue or hight ; 
And long as laws allow free, truthful thought, 
'Tis but through general good, a nation's can be 
wrought. 

VII. 

In such a land, Emancipation's need 

Had made unconscious of one other due 

Full many a wiser soul that moved to deed. 
The Slavery there — the ward of patriots too — 
They felt a foe, that bode his time, and grew : 

They sought not Statesmanship, with mouth to frame 

4 



50 DARING: 

The mob's ambition ; but that manhood true 
Which makes all brighter to reflect its name, 
Save the historic page, wide-shrunk beside the flame. 

VIII. 

The youth, scarce heeding where he was or went, 

Moved wildly on as thoughts that work'd his will ; 
As if, tho' meager means might soon be spent. 

Proud Hope could feel unborn successes thrill ; 

Till resting on the brow of higher hill. 
His face betokens that vain fears dispel ; 

And, gazing back, he stands a moment still ; 
But soon emotions, from full fountains swell ; 
And utter thence a fond and passionate farewell : 

IX. 

"Ye mountains, vales, and bays, and woods, and 
streams, — 
Oh never, never seem'd ye half so rare ! 
How beauteous each shall wake when morning 
gleams ! 
Yet I who love you so shall not be there ! 
But ne'er shall I forget the guise ye wear. 
So long as thought shall roam, or love be free. — 

Why are not souls proportionately fair 1 
Ah, then, how fill'd with joy might all things be ? 
And then there were no need that ye should 
banish me ! 



" And yon hot hut, beside those stunted oaks. 
Long smothering all the dear desires of youth, 



A POEM. 51 

Dream not I shall regret your yards and yokes 
Who go to harvest broader fields of truth ] 
A fiercer curse than ever comes, forsooth, 

When morning light reveals my vacant cell — 
Will one be sad ? — Ah William, is it ruth 

To leave you thus ? forgive me, 't is the spell 

Of strange sensations here ! yes, yes I must, fare- 
well ! " 

XI. 

Ask you, why I who write look up and seek 

The face which from the mirror glances down ? — 
This is not he who, fed by fancies' freak, 

Grew out the limits of his native town. 

About those lips and eyes a fickle clown 
Of hope was sporting : here, tired memories rest. 

That form bent not before stern Fortune's frown : 
Nor round that head had throng'd each ghostly 

guest — 
God grant white harbingers of crown not manifest ! 

XII. 

A few short years, how will their sun and storm 

Trail marks of change across the face and frame ; 
And what one vaguely deems himself, transform 

To second self, both friend and foe disclaim ! 

And, in the heart, how unmark'd calls for fame, 
Where once the young blood sprung at each fresh 
drum ! 

Those shifting thrills of hope and fear, how 
tame ! — 
Familiar throbs of life's old pendulum. 
Wound up to vibrate on till hope and fear be dumb. 



52 DARING: 

XIII. 
A few short years, ah, steady, steady grown, 

The fickle brook has reach'd the level mead 
Where now, no more to boist'rous torrents thrown, 

The deeper current moves, with noiseless speed. 

And haply thus, altho' one may not heed 
Full springs that start through tides far underneath, 

Yet wide to further still maturer deed, 
More strong, tho' naught disturb its bordering heath, 
Life works on worthily the surface calm beneath. 

XIV. 

The boy — for man to term the boy's life " I " 
Appear'd now false, and even half profane : 

For sacred is that past he walks, where lie 

Lands bright with joy, and where all distant pain 
Flits, slight as shade, or beautifies, if lain 

The boy pass'd on ; and just as dawn began 
To sketch far east a rare autumnal plain, 

Along the road in front his eyes could scan 

A house, and barn, and fence, on which there 
lean'd a man, 

XV. 

A farmer, o'er whose broad and sun-served brows 
Brown Health had laid her consecrating hands ; 

With stalworth shoulders bent by Toil that bows 
As mindful aye of boons from generous lands ; 
With soul, ne'er swerved by scheme the loon 
commands. 

Smiling from all the face a welcome true. 



A POEM. 53 

Through eyes attention wistfully expands, 
Unwont to choose from books a mystic clew 
And search the maze of self for phantoms ever new. 

XVI. 

He saw the youth ; and, while a whistled song 

Flew off from opening lips, he thus began : 
" Bright morning neighbor, judge it's pretty long, 

Your walk : you're plodding like a puritan. 

There must be something stirring in the van 
That it can further such unusual zest ? 

Where do you go ? — Don't know ? — Without 
a plan 
As well await the sunset in the west ? — 
Well, well I never question ; but you '11 stop ? and 
rest ? — 

XVII. 

" Good farm you say ? quite wise to think it is ! 

No better land in all this hemisphere. 
Grain grows so fast, one well-nigh hears it whiz ! 

I've somewhat changed about the crops this year, 

But on my side-hill lot, just over here. 
Where now these buckwheat buds puff out like 
leaven. 

Last fall the corn — I swear I speak sincere — 
Stood fifteen feet, as tho' the Dung had striven. 
Pelagian-like, to build green Babels up to Heaven ! 

XVIII. 

" Some breakfast ? Yes, of course. — But spare your 
cents, 



54 DARING: 

I have n't much ; to that I welcome you, — 
Just ready. Early breakfasts save expense : — 

One's sooner through for work ; and eats less too." 

While seated at the board, with quick review 
Of those brave resolutions he had made, 

The boy, to cause of reformation true, 
Vow'd to commence at once to wield his blade : 
But thus his host repell'd each venture he essay'd : — 

XIX. 

" Free slaves ? lift masses ? — nonsense ! — For the 
schools 
I'd pay my taxes, yes ; but not sure still 
That men train working, and not talking, tools, 
Who ease of muscle and strain up of will. 
Better strong meat, like this. Pass up ; I'll fill 
Your plate again. — Then take more hash ? — I'd 
vow, 
My boy, they'd wean'd you on a sugar-pill ! 
This creature was the most fat, soft, sweet sow 
Whose furs e'er snugg'd the baby-worms. There, 
try that now. 

XX. 

" All men should learn ? — not as you state it, boy ; 

All men should learn enough to make them work. 
A little less may now and then annoy ; 

A little more makes lazy as a Turk. — 

No, I do not like radicals ! No jerk 
Can out-root all of evil in a trice : 

Wherever grain can ripen, weeds must lurk ; 
And some grow till the harvest. Take advice : 
Impatience cannot force these fruits of Paradise. — 



A POEM. 55 

XXT. 

" Not philanthropic ? — pugh ! I tell the world : — 
* If they '11 leave me alone, then I'll leave them.' 

Last year, some city swells came out, and whirl'd 
Our country up-side down, with stratagem 
To rip a rattling railway through the hem 

Of my farm here ; tried to inflate the thing 
With long blown lies of cash. I said to them 

' Do you pretend your nuisance wouldn't bring 

All else your big town hatches with its dingy wing ? 

XXII. 

" ' Disinterested friends ; this is a place 

For country rest : nor now, nor in next year, 
Do we intend its quiet to efface 

By buzz and bustle of your boasted sphere. 

Besides — altho', perchance, a trifle queer — 
We scarce propose to triple our expense 

Even for double gains of which we hear. — 
When our good wives turn'd chrysalids of sense 
To burst, town butterflies ! we'd rue the conse- 
quence ! 

XXIII. 

" ' And as for letters, news and active life, 

We've work'd these heaving hills enough, to 
know 

On farm one finds sufficient storm and strife. 
And life full fast, tho' you imagine, slow. 
Content to watch the seasons come and go, 

With each new sport and task by each one given ; 



56 DARING: 

With hunt for summer, and with sleigh for snow, 
Match'd against smoky streets, all stench and 

Steven, 
We know, if out the world, we live much nearer 

Heaven ! ' 

XXIV. 

" Here ! help me finish this raspberry pie ; 

Right full of seeds ! — but seeds, where sown, 
may grow ? — 
To church ? — Yes always, when the clouds are 
high: 
I think as much of home and Bible tho.' — 
Not public-spirited? — Well, may be, no. 
But mark me, boy, one way to influence 

Is to improve one's own ! My thrift to show, 
I don't blackguard my neighbor's, o'er the fence, 
But make my place attract j and shame his differ- 
ence ! 

XXV. 

" But half the truth ? — What, going ? — Better rest ? 

Brows always knit grow wrinkled in their prime. 
Must ? — Then good-bye ; perhaps it may be best : 

But pardon one more word, — tho', at your time, 

I too had whims that I too thought sublime, — 
Don't be so bent to drive the older folk. 

If youth must hurry toward its wiser clime. 
Let it goad on the young. It cann't provoke 
Old heads, too long ago grown steady to their yoke ! 



A POEM. 57 



XXVI. 



" Farewell : " — Then hastening out, and through the 
path, 

The guest soon disappear'd far down the way, 
Where stormy feelings, more in woe than wrath, 

Dash'd to wet eyes, weak tributes of dismay : — 

" Alas, poor Tongue ! and shall you ne'er convey 
Conviction for the deeds you would install? 

Where'er I'd rouse a soul that good have sway, 
Whose fault, when lo ! in answer to each call. 
Jeers stalk, whence I had hoped that Love would 
marshal all ! 

XXVII. 

" So was it on the farm : so is it here. 

But, on the farm, those brutal ways withstood 
Because too unkind, kind deeds to revere. 

But this man seem'd so kind ! " — thus did he 

brood. 
And who would not ? — Where good men slight 
our good 
There comes the worst test Faith can e'er out-pace. 
Well for the boy, doubt donn'd a mootish mood : — 
If one who loved but self and not the race. 
With so small thing to love, could wear so pleased 
a face ? 

XXVIII. 

And where was youth, in whose uncertain breast. 
When good and ill were wildly balancing, 



58 DARING: 

Brave hope for best did not outweigh the rest? 
And thus ere long, from grief recovering, 
He grew quite sure that years more skill would 
bring : 

And that with other men, he would agree : 
This isolated farmer — no strange thing — 

Had schemes for good, no doubt, the same as he, 

But did not understand him ; no, it could not be. 

XXIX. 

So he trod lightly on : and, when, at noon. 

The shades were folding in each sheltering wing, 
He found beneath broad oaks a grateful boon, 

Five women dining round a sparkling spring. 

They offer food ; then, after pain'd throats swing 
In stiff suspense their tongues to bid him cheer. 

Thrill back to nature's gossip-caroling — 
Their Joseph, fy ! how qualm'd, how scared to 

hear 
What horrid, scandalous pit he'd dared to venture 
near ! 

XXX. 

Escaped this peril soon, he reach'd a town, 

One whence a railway stretch'd far toward the 
sea. 
He enter'd a long train, and sat him down. 
First nervous, then right wild with ecstasy ! 
The clatter timed old tunes ! The trees, whirl'd 
by 
And wheel'd far off, danced to the music's might ! 
As towns and crowds sped past so rapidly. 



A POEM. 59 

Charm 'd half to sleep, he dream'd all work'd for 

right : 
And that all earth had grown so beautiful ! so 

bright ! 

XXXI. 

He was awaken'd out of reverie 

By two loud voices from the seat behind. 
He turn'd and faced a man, whose glancing eye 

Now beam'd, as tho' with love for all mankind ; 

Then changed its look, as wandering to find 
Regard for self, or thought to be repeal'd ; — 

With knowledge of the world and doubt com- 
bined 
Which gives to manners art, not all conceal'd ; 
To words, sound school'd to stay what should not 
be reveal'd. 

XXXII. 

Beside him sat another, all his face 

Sway'd by a courage bold to conquer care. 

His glasses, shifted oft with easy grace. 

Great coat, large pockets, and abundant hair 
Mark'd him — " physician," one whose sovereign air 

Rebukes the rage of fevers into rest. 

Whose brow can bear unmoved the anxious stare. 

While children wilder o'er his crowded chest j 

And how a silent pulse can tell which cure is 
best? 

XXXIII. 

The first one, from his conversation, seem'd 

Thought from commercial spheres to intimate : — 



6o DARING : 

" I much regret our old friend should have deem'd 
His special calling now, to advocate 
These strange reform bills ; if he could but wait, 

His talents might prove par for any place 
In all the land. Discounting at this rate. 

Trust me, they '11 reach, ere long, a day of grace 

With every note of fame protested by the race." 

XXXIV. 

The other said : — to skip words harsh for rhyme — 
" All very true : a ventricle should not 

Out-act an auricle : there was a time. 

Place, ad captandum vulgus : this was what, 
In actu, made men : he never forgot 

His diagnosis, Medicinae D., 

Not D. D. : some, for instance, told a sot. 

Most dead, the truth ; to wholly kill : not he ; 

Nor thought a devil's tool could — delve respectably." 

XXXV. 

He paused to gaze upon the open eyes 

And mouth of the awed boy who sat before ; 

Increasing much the listener's surprise 

By questioning : what thoughts he held in store ? — 
Who blush'd and turn'd, but summon'd, o'er and 
o'er, 

Answer'd, at first, with timid, modest tone : 
" Perhaps he did not understand their lore • 

But, if he did, at least he dared to own 

But little could it please them if those thoughts 
were known." 



A POEM. 6 1 

XXXVI. 

' Gainst this, they both made protests, moved by 
which 

The boy much love for truth and freedom spoke. 
As ways waxt bold, the doctor seem'd to hitch 

His questioning thought with words, no sense 
could yoke, 

Altho' his comrade found full many a joke. 
Anon appear'd the purpose of the twain, 

In interchange of glance. Then patience broke. 
' Tis test of brightest zeal, if quib profane. 
Back, like a mirror's flash, the insult flies again. 

XXXVII. 

"Had I not seen enough," he said, "to show 

Your vile hypocrisy without this test "^ 
Must you add dung to dirt, and foully grow 

Rank insult from filth, else too manifest? 

Yes, yes I was a fool, I own, to rest 
A confidence in men, too mean to know 

With what sublimer views those souls are blest 
Who look away from self! If self below 
Seem bright ! so does the devil ! brilliant as his 
woe ! " 

XXXVIII. 

His quivering mouth could hold no further word : 
Nor was there need : the two soon left the train. 

" A strange and saucy stripling ! " this he heard, 
Then he was left alone, alone with pain. 
They did not know how oft and oft amain 

Hot tears came seething from his boiling breast ; 



62 DARING: 

Nor think how wit, wing'd warbling from one 

brain, 
May build on tender souls a loathsome nest. 
Pluck slowly dying leaves, and brood, o'er long 

unrest. 

XXXIX. 

Then too the young are true philosophers. 

For aye retaining all impartially 
To graft in thought and grow in characters. 

When learning sates a spare necessity, 

A man may deem his small advance a plea 
For crampt contentment with too little lore, 

Or fatted pride, wind-blown ere victory : 
But very few are children ever more, 
To trace with simple faith the wonders still before. 

XL. 

And he thus left — no words, however sad, 
Could speak his grief, nor any fancy show. 

What fathoms that wild source that can make mad ? 
What is it swamps the reason, when below 
Dark depths of fancy well to overflow } 

What latent power of grief impels them on ? 

When, 'midst fierce storm-clouds, ghosts of buried 
woe 

And future ill conjure, with features wan. 

Sensations too acute for thought to poise upon ? 

XLI. 

" I wonder if it be that yon pale star 

Shines now on those I love .'' " so mused he 
here : — 



A POEM. 67, 

" Those dear old faces ! — strange how dim they 
are ! 
And can it be they nevermore shall cheer ? — 
A fool was I, to let, without a tear, 
Such fruitless hope outweigh a bliss possess'd ! — 

And are they joyous there, tho' I'm not near ? 
Or do they weep with kindred woes oppress 'd ? 
Or is naught kindred now for this^ lone, shivering 
breast ? 

XLII. 

" On either side, I hear, 'mid nod and smile, 
From festive hearts, this ringing laughter bound — 

I'd rather be the wretch who, down the aisle. 
From coffin seal'd, cries — * murder ! ' to the sound 
Of his own requiem ! 'twere sweet compound 

To mine ! — who'd mourn for me ? for me, a pest ? 
Why all things shun me : — e'en this senseless 
ground. — 

How far away the chill night sears the west ! 

How very, very far mild Nature's mocking rest ! 

XLIII. 

" A tale, I've read, of one spared spar that bore 

A shipwreck'd sailor far from friendly lea, 
Nor heeded beacon-fires upon the shore 

That flared and fell while swell'd and sank the 

sea. 
Ah ! there be things leave Earth more direfully : — 
These woes that float back deathward through the 
brain 
Where storms that will not let the dying be 



64 DARING: 

Surge up as tho' with new impulse of pain, 
To crack each shatter'd nerve, and burst each 
straining vein. 

XLIV. 

" Yet far, cold world, I love ! could I not show 

Some soul, that out its usual quest would veer, 
That they yield most to friends whose love can flow 

But for the few ? — Alas ! shall such appear ? 

Is desolation dear to lure them near ? 
Is woe so worthful, it can woo Delight ? — 

Oh God ! spare one, one chording voice ! — I hear 
Heaven's full of chords to diapason might 
Of love, with common base deep in the Infinite ! " 

XLV. 

The train had stopt : and out the crowd there came 
A youth who after many a bow and smile. 

And parting and return, to make the same, 

With curious eye came sauntering down the aisle. 
Then sat beside our wanderer. " Not much 
style 

Aboard ! " said he. " Confound my ears ! — A bore, 
A blasted bore, this tunnel ! I could file 

Two beauties past blear-eyed coquets, three score. 

Without such clatter ! — Why, what's up ? You're 
looking sore ? 

XLVI. 

" A little blue ? — that's up enough ! sky-high ! 

Felt so myself! Seen stars sometimes ! Why hide 
The cause ? Take the hide off. By my best eye 



A POEM. 65 

To flay a folly slays it. A rawhide 
Peels a fool's thought, moults foolish ! Come, 
confide ? 
Naught like an airing, would you oust a moan." 
Our youth look'd longing toward his proffer'd 
guide. 
For those strange words had yet a friendly tone ; 
And, as he watch'd that face, he seem'd no more 
alone : 

XLVII. 

Besides, he had no great trusts to confide. 

So soon imparted them to this new friend. 
On whom not some but all appear'd to glide : 

Would God our older cares found such an end ! 

" That all your cash ? and bound to try a bend 
To New York ? Quite a crazy crook ! for what ? 

To make a man ? A project to commend 
At your size ! Not a fascinating sot 
That held you bound ! But let unfruitful topics 
rot : 

XLVIII. 

" I have a guardian — honor to whom due ! 

He guards what shops are paid, I, what they 
sell. 
This governor rules a school : that should suit you, — 

And a gazette, that shouldn't ! — funereal ! — 

Taste, Truth, both sacrificed to th' riff-raffs' hell ! 
Could you spell out goose-tracks of genus coy ; 

Stop up each sense ; without cold, snivel well, 



5 



66 DARING: 

So that to him like tone like slang convoy, 

He's seen so much of me, he'd have another boy." 

XLIX. 

Then added he of life in Baltimore, 

" In that right merry State of Maryland : — 

No Yankee-made strait-jackets to restore 

The souls gone mad from endless reprimand ! — 

i: All the best fun on earth their town could stand, 

Tho' 'ad made — for hens, with half-hatch'd hopes 
waylay'd — 
Black abolition speeches contraband — 

Don't frown, a slave's not such an ugly jade. 

And boy, my boy, you'll find there many a bright 
eyed maid." 

L. 

The boy had frown 'd ; but 't was the frown of dreams. 

When blinded sight shies from too dazzling light. 
For here up-gleam'd the acme of his schemes : — 

To know the South, and learning, learn ^ to write. 

It distanced hope he had not dared excite. 
He e'en forgets his mission while he bends 

To catch the wild details, so swift of flight. 
About that new-found home, and coming friends. 
While Fancy each strange form, a stranger halo 
lends. 

LI. 

He hears about the school ; " the queerest set 

Earth e'er had jarr'd together ; down from Pool — 
The pest of tutors, but the student's pet, 



A POEM. 67 

Who works all day but never with the school, 
Gains discipline through zest and not through 
rule — 
Way down to Sims, whose ample pocket-toys 

Outweigh the brain, a fop and fawning fool. 
Dons vice by nature, doffs but when decoys. 
The beau of all the girls, the butt of all the boys."' 

Lir. 

Then of a matron : — " snarling, sharp, and slim : 

A thing best made to punch with ! topt by hue 
Of blood too ! with a gait as stiff and prim 

As stilts could give ! who eats with chronic — 
' pshew ! ' 

Lest bad breath taint her — mirror ! for the 
shrew 
Has no friends : like a caged beast's sentinel, 

Pokes ujD all day a snarling brat or two ; 
Or hints a deal of news she must not tell ; 
Or finds out all folk do, and not one doing well."" 

LIII. 

Then of a tutor : and that tutor's life, 

'Spite all the funny traits young wit could show, 
Loom'd like a chieftain's form to famting strife — 

This seem'd the soul the boy had yearn 'd for 
so : — 

" A man who loved a * yes,' but dared say ' no ! ^ 
Strict, yet with smiles ; gay, yet a Christian too. 

'Twas said he'd weather'd many a storm below, 
Still vigor stay'd ; and, when in spirits — whew ! 
You'd think he'd gulpt down each, to blow its sport 
for you ! " 



68 DARING: 

LIV. 

Some men there are, whose generous zeal for truth 

Burns like that holy bush which Moses saw, 
To leave each leaf and limb still green with youth : 

Some souls there are, impell'd by love, not law. 

Dear thence the boon from living wells to draw 
The deep experience stored through strife unseen. 

Sweet are the words, pure past all fear of flaw, 
From melting hearts, with naught to intervene 
'Twixt mind and mouth to mould them cold, tho' 
crystalline ! 

LV. 

Such was the soul, our youth, soon after, found 

Prepared to aid the groundwork of his thought : 
And oft, when delving down where doubts abound. 

The wisest way, by that wise friend was taught. 

He loved his work, aye feeling, while he wrought. 
That only from the deep foundations rise 

Grand structures, like the model that he sought : 
And tho' this oft was hid to drooping eyes. 
Anon he'd spring to see it flash from clearest skies ! 

LVI. 

Then would he live for months in that bright land 

Where boyhood dwells, to bless perpetual morn ; 
Where 'mid the fragrant air on either hand 

Throng birds and buds and sunbeams newly born ; 

Where care whiffs by like wind j and every thorn 
That paves the path o'er which the feet must stray 

Gleams 'neath the dewy crystals that adorn, 



A POEM. 69 

With thousand charms to dazzle down the way, 
And rouse far drawn desires this earth can ne'er 
allay. 

LVII. 

He lived, with deepening eye, and merry voice. 
And winning ways that grew still more in grace, 

To laugh from chance but be demure from choice, 
While 'mid each form he sought to find some face. 
And through each sound some subtle thought to 
trace : 

For this, he oft would search, 'mid dust and noise, 
Strange buildings or the queerer populace ; 

And wend where on the green the crowd enjoys, 

And mourns and mocks by turns, young soldiers 
and old boys. 

LVIII. 

Or, sicken'^ by the crime and filth one meets. 
He'd wander nervously adown the hill, 

Along the shady side of grand old streets, 
To reach the sea, and gaze in waters still, 
Or skip smooth pebbles through each rising rill. 

Long charm 'd, he knows not wherefore, by the play ; 
Then seek his bed to rise, when white stars 
thrill 

With feelings wide and wild which melt away 

With bells whose echoes bound like breakers 'round 
the bay ! 

LIX. 

At times, grown sad for lost hours, nights would 
find 



7© DARING : 

Him dashing through the course of some chance 
book 
The fickle passion of unbridled mind. 
Alas ! how many truths did he o'erlook ! 
How many rich-robed lies for guides he took ! 
How dizzy love grew, lured by glittering wing 
Through morbid fantasy ! How sweet Faith 
shook, 
Half kill'd by darts, well nigh too sharp to sting, 
Thrust through the back by those who spoke so 
mild a thing ! 

LX. 

But books brought good with bad. From doubting 
task 
That incantation came for each truth sought, 
Which may fail all, but least fails those that ask, 
So long as conscience grow with growing thought. 
Howbeit, when Pride would taunt crude ways 
untaught, 
Or Prejudice laugh down some odder scheme, 

He fear'd for self that argued now, now fought ; 
But soon forgot the thing, for higher theme. 
In doubt then if the woe had been in deed or 
dream. 

LXI. 

More oft, impell'd by wild unrest within. 

Half wrong, half right, he sought to sate its 
might 

Through trumpet-blasts of onset to all sin : 
Or real, or fancied, both invoked his spite. 



A POEM. 71 

He storm'd the seen ! he stabb'd that out of sight ! 
A young Don Quixote, caring first to dare, 

He harm'd more good, perchance, through zeal 
for right, 
Than He or sham, his effort could lay bare : 
He stirr'd the most of dust just where most need 
of air. 

LXII. 

And this he found ; for one sweet day when all 
His soul had seem'd to bloom in dreams most 
bright, 
He waked, to note near shadows crawl the wall, 
And, turning quickly, met the welcome sight 
Of fondest friends, long wont to cheer when 
Right 
Urged knightly wish to tilt some erring soul. 
'Spite strife to check them, lo ! 'mid laughter 
light. 
His own name toss'd ! Oh God ! with grace control 
Faith, finding first how near Life skirts a trustless 
shoal ! 

LXIII. 

What lover dreams that love which throbs and 
thrills 
Can, for one heedless hour, be laid aside ? 
The heart of that soul-life, whose beating fills 
Each individual ripple of the tide 
Of blood or breath, where has the soul-life died ? 
Ah, when, swift stirr'd, it dofis this fleshy vest, 
Love, like the lightning, flash'd from storms, shall 
glide 



72 DARING: 

To join full light of heaven ! tho' all the rest 
Fall back, as clouds, that wept, sink, spent, on 
Ocean's breast. 

LXIV. 

" My Pythias ? " he heard : — " He's like a Muse, 

The more unseen the more inspiring, oh ! 
I deem some friends like onions ; — best to use 
AVhen one's alone ; — or else with geese ; — not 

so ? 

Come, here's a problem : — you are stumpt to show 

Just where the fellow's like a goose ? " — " Because 

He's good to pluck, with feathers white too ! " 

" No." 

" Well then, with chief defence — you see — his 

jaws, — 
Good weapons only for a bird of cloven claws." 

LXV. 

" He cackles ere he scratches ; — but go to ! 

I judge that one a goose, whenever wont 
To mix with men, who'll quack and hiss — you 
know — 

A-face the kitchen door, and not the front ! 

Like one of Scott's grand soldiers in the brunt. 
Who always saw the stranger wrong side first — 

With bad impression ! Pshaw ! to be so blunt 
For good, so sharp for sin is to be curst. 
They're bound to find but woe who feel but for the 
worst. 



A POEM. 73 

LXVI. 

" 'Tis pity too. If he had aught below, 

Some wheeling years that pass might whet his 
wit : 
But he's top-heavy. Whims upset him so ; 
He's like a spinning top ; — well whipt for it, 
He'll whine with wind ; not whipt, have a moping 
fit ! " — 
This was too much : the boy could bide the rest. 
But when pretended friends could thus submit 
His young life's failure for his whole life's test, 
It was to doom for woe all hope that still seem'd 
blest. 

LXVII. 

He spoke : " It might be well for one who skims 

Only of surface thinking, not to mock 
What lies too deep for him. I seem all whims. 
Tell how a body differs from a block. 
Except through these same whims ? Be you the 
rock, 
That staid, world-worthy thing, doomsday shall find 

Mud-bound ! — I'd rather be the weather-cock, 
To whine ? — Yes whine ! — clean-splinter with the 

wind ! 
If so some sign from heaven were token'd to my 
kind ! — 

LXVIII. 

"Too late recalling words now! You were right — 
'Twas kind to be just, e'en behind one's back ! — 



74 DARING : 

The goose did hiss ! Is't strange thing in your 
sight, 
Life, true to nature ? — it hiss'd back a quack ! 
Oh, I have seen lips, Uvid from long lack 
Of what the heart held ; truth and tongue had cut 

Connection ; only aping left, my pack — 
The witty apes were first of brutes, but tut ! 
They thought to mock true men, and turn'd creation's 
butt ! — 

LXIX. 

" Spare me ! for flattery, that whited scum 
Of selfish souls, taste sickens in the end. 

'Tis not forever sweet, the modicum ! 

Try a fresh tongue ! To serve it, you can wend, 
Not hoof d nor horn'd ; some smooth mask, I'd 
commend ; 

Yet ne'er let slip the cheat ; lest dupes begin 
To scorn ! God-knighted Conscience will not bend 

When one would praise himself; but stabs within. 

And what self yields not self, it yields to no one's 
— sin!" 

LXX. 

Much more he might have rail'd ; but, glancing 
up. 

Beheld his favorite teacher hear him chide ! 
Then soon the froth that foam'd above the cup, 

Dissolv'd in timid tears, stole down the side : — 

" Ah Sir, I could not help it. I could bide 
A boast of Insult, if victorious Mirth 

Snatch'd not a victim's crown. Not only pride. 



A POEM. 75 

The good, one might do, bids defend self- worth. 
That lost, and all is lost, all influence but dearth." — 

LXXI. 

I've read that, in old times, men sought the list. 
Of whom one mark'd the groundlings nudge and 
prate, 
Because of humble guise — " lo Egotist ! " 

There's many a modest soul must bear that fate 
Whom unobtruding worth has doom'd to state 
Of low regard, which one faint sigh repels : 

Earth likes the swaggering, plumed, and spurr'd 
ingrate 
Well cheer'd alone ere trump to onset swells ; 
But not one half-way protest ! — get you cap and 
bells ! — 

LXXII. 

Self may live far from its ideal ends. 

As earth from heaven ; as dreams from love 
awake : 
Then judge we self by wish ; but nearest friends 
Judge but by works, and, judging thus, mistake. 
This boy deem'd his friend harsh, who strove to 
make 
Now pride, now anger proof of love amiss : 

Then, when the injured heart still more would 
ache, 
Gave it a book : — "A few hours spent with this 
May train calm thought," he said ; " and teach 
analysis." 



76 DARING: 

LXXIII. 

And such, when well prepared, thus read the youth : 
" The kindliest aim might fail, pumpt up like 
spleen 
With gusty face and fist, e'en tho', forsooth, 

* Peace, peace on earth, good will toward men ' 

the theme. 
Would one deal truth for thought ? — or love 
for mien? — 
Truth is best dealt through proof, as thus : — twice 
three 
Are six ; we each have three, then six between : 
A powerless form, knew not both equally 
Twice three are six ; did not proof start where both 
agree. 

LXXIV. 

" And thus it is that widest powers belong 

To liberal minds. They yield much to the race, 

And gain much oneness thence to woo the throng. 
Real eccentricity moves off through space, 
Concentric ne'er ! Shut in to self, a grace, 

As brains entomb'd breed worms, breeds bigotry ; 
Whence love's live spirit flies toward Heaven 
apace. 

Where stars, tho' single, blend, a galaxy ; 

And wills blend, one through right divine of Charity. 

LXXV. 

" Treat not as fabrics of vain human wit 

The deepest moral truths. Believe the mind 



A POEM. 77 

Is dower'd with such when form'd. To benefit, 
Rouse first each germ already in mankind, 
For good grown outward from true life behind. 

God's Spirit moves to love but one deep key- 
Whence all life-music sounds. So power to find 

'Mid minds or natures deepest harmony — 

Genius grows chiefly such through geniality. 

LXXVI. 

" And if not truth, but love one deal ; how then, 

Imparting spirit such as now redeems 
Through kindlier weal the worth of modern men. 

Can strife attain one aim of loving themes ? 

Can bitter sources flow to flood sweet streams .-* 
If, stirr'd to grand endeavor, one would blend 

An anarchy of individual schemes 
In Heaven-like union for harmonious end ; 
If union come through love, let love its claims 
commend. 

LXXVII. 

" Pause, where Reform would form to one fond truth 

All else, lest it court self, ideal-bright. 
A new aim push'd despite old good forsooth, 

A finite aim adjusts not all things right. 

The gain complete is always Infinite ! 
The choice to serve but self made Adam fall. 

E'en wishing wisdom ; and to mould through 
might 
Others to self, cloaks with a tyrant's pall 
The freedman's leader ; and makes demons of us 
all. 



78 DARING : 

LXXVIII. 

" Remember One divine, and yet a guide, 

Whose precious promises seem less command. 

Than paeans which proclaim that strife subside. 
Remember Moses when beneath the hand 
Of God within the rock. What seem'd too grand 

When with that Spirit's strength investitured ? — 
Like them, to-day, all through the world might 
stand 

Meek men, for whom had patient faith secured 

More power than princes wield, of countless hosts 
assured. 

LXXIX. 

" Seek faith, for through the clouds that cover all 
This looms the only archway toward the Throne. 

The skill that sows the seed can never call 
The grain to life ; where'er the germ be grown, 
'Tis vivified by power, to man unknown. 

So till the earth ; and learn, as storms revive. 
Failure in toil were this, to toil alone. 

Then strange 'twill seem that men should wrongly 
strive 

When love, that prompts mild aims, alone can make 
aims thrive." 

LXXX. 

" Well done ! " the master said : " Wise then, would 
all 
Whom passion plunges into sudden ill. 
Quick to resent, be as quick to recall. 



A POEM. 79 

Ere hating hours hatch habits, swift fulfill — 
So Love may still seem sovereign of the will — 
All friendliness to friends, Love yet may save. 

And one thing more : before, o'er Eastern hill. 
Comes broader light, think not Heaven to out- 
brave : 
Nor quite so wisely speak full freedom for the 
slave." 

LXXXI. 

Some more he spoke ; then left with mild adieu. — 

No human voice could now recall the dart 
Love's Thoughtlessness, but of an instant, threw : 
" False friends," the poor boy mused, " had heard 

his heart! 
His words were blamed, forsooth, for lack of 
art ! 
What then ? he could not, would not don disguise. 
Blame were more blest than praise, from truth 
apart ! " 
He sought his bed ; he dream'd, 'mid waking cries, 
Of contest flaming up to smoke that hid the skies ! — 

LXXXII. 

Oh world, world, world ! you play'd too well your 
part. 

When our ideal life first bade farewell 
To Hope, low-framing towers of perfect art ! 

When from the scaffolding, Faith, fainting, fell 

'Mid rocks so chill, and yet so near to Hell ! 
Poor Babel-dreams, what were our brains about ? 

No fancied forms to full proportions swell ! 



8o DARING : 

Comes reel ! comes rack ! then grim and ghastly 

doubt ! 
Why brood, black buzzard ? why not rip the doom'd 

heart out ? — 

LXXXIII. 

He seem'd to gaze aback the long, long years, 
Where chariot wheels that roll'd through ages 
past 
Creak'd as with groans which shook far yawning 
fears ! 
And all about were wars ! no peace to last ! 
Or tombs, with gilded praise to guilt most vast ! 
He sought the future ; but from unform'd life 
Congealing chaos chill'd the brooding blast ! 
He fear'd to know what wrong, what right was rife ! 
He dared not look beyond thick fumes of earthly 
strife ! 

LXXXIV. 

He woke : and mused of self. The wisest souls 
Muse first of self; mild, tho', so long denied, 

They see, still far beyond, their chosen goals. 
But he, he was not wise yet, to confide 
In distant good. He thought how he had tried : 

And self lost love : and others gain'd but pain : 
How he had spurn'd, — for wrongs he could not 
bide, — 

His benefactors. What course could remain ? — 

One : — he must leave their roof tho' all his hopes 
be slain ! 



A POEM. 81 



LXXXV. 



He seized his clothes : and rush'd out through the 
night 
Where Darkness trembled 'neath the threatening 
tread 
Of an advancing Storm. Oh fearful sight — 
That black car of the Thunderer overhead ! 
Those fierce bolts flashing down their line of red ! 
And crashing on amid the scatter'd sleet ! 

Whence one broad elm, like Caesar stabb'd and 
dead, 
Flung up its robes, and tumbled at his feet, 
While hoarse winds howl'd about, a fiendish zerelete. 

LXXXVI. 

On, on and on, he sped, till suddenly. 

With deafening shock, the bay, a sea of flame, 
Flash'd full in view ! He turn'd in fright to flee. 

Wild as a murderer hearing his own name ! 

He thought of death, of hell, with quivering 
frame ! 
He thought his deeds had helpt inflame their ire. 

Till all the Thunders seem'd to bellow — 
" Shame ! " 
And Winds hiss'd, hooting on, and would not tire — 
" A curse to self and all ! and all the world on fire ! " 

LXXXVII. 

He ran, and ran, as tho' to outstrip thought! 

Yet only fann'd its fuel, red to white ! 
And made the dogs bark louder, tho' for naught. 
6 



82 DARING, 

He whirl'd aface a window where was light. 

Its beams suggested hope ! he curst the sight : 
And turning, plung'd far into kindred dark : 

But as he dash'd along, with frenzied might. 
Upon the pavement fell a trembling spark : 
He crush 'd it with his heel, and sought the broader 
park. 

LXXXVIII. 

Half way across, his passion's hot-tooth'd flames 

Freeze, icy blades ! A fearful shriek cuts through 
The fitful surges of the storm ! and shames 

The sever'd thunder ! Lanterns loom in view ! 

And sly police, assured, at last, of clew 
From quick steps where the poor boy hies from fear. 

Then oh, how swift through lawn and lane he 
flew. 
Till all was gloom again ! when, drench'd and drear. 
He hivd beneath a shed to wait till dawn draw near. 

LXXXIX. 

And last it does come ! From his crimson couch. 
The Sun draws back the curtains of the East ; 

While stealthy shades, through fen and forest crouch; 
Or, 'scaping westward, leave the world releast 
From dismal spells that still'd the man and beast. 

Winds, wide, aroused, shake up each rustling wood. 
As tho' they whisper'd — " Wake, your thralldom's 
ceast ! " 

And birds, that dream'd all night of morning mood, 

Chase the faint stars, or find them flown with glee 
renew'd. 



A POEM. S^ 

xc. 
Soon, o'er the high hills lifts the sovereign crown, 

When, gayly garb'd in homage of their king. 
The dew-bright Groves and Grasses bend low down, 
Then yield their midnight gains to vapory wing. 
Pleased with the stores of glittering wealth, they 
bring, 
Their prince speaks festive day! whence sounds of 
praise 
And fragrant incense float : and sweet bells ring 
Of hour, for men to muse, 'mid prayerful lays. 
Of that bright morn when comes the Prince of all 
the Days ! 

xci. 

Ay, ay He comes, after all storm and rain. 

When glory gilds above the last dim night. 
When peace fills back the last faint sigh of pain. 

He comes. He comes to usher endless light ! 

Wake up, oh Earth ! E'en now, half led by sight. 
Behold ! and track the tempest by the rose ! 

And through the wake of war, the way of right ! 
Behold ! while each fresh breath of morning blows, 
How sweet, how beauteous life beneath the darkness 
grows ! 

XCII. 

But he, whose night had pass'd so drearily. 

For whom the wise Winds whisper'd in their 
round. 
For whom the brisk birds chirpt so cheerily, 



84 DARING: A POEM. j 

For whom the bright sun up the heavens wound, 

Till brave work bustled by, with praiseful sound, j 

Old men moved lightly, and glad children leapt, ' 

Amort to hope and happiness profound, i 

Lull'd to long weary dreams while tired storms ' 

wept, ; 

Stretch'd on the chill, damp ground all through the ; 

dawning slept. 1 

] 

XCIII. \ 

At length, a farmer, stranger to the throng, j 

Happening to spy the boy, through curious ken, I 
Approach'd : and rousing him, with accents strong, 

Cried: — "My young run-a-way, I've caught you 

then ? I 

Good care I'll take you do not run again ! — 1 

Ho ! cartman ! go you toward the station now ? — ' 

I wish to move a sick boy, out this pen. — \ 

You've place enough for us. I'll show you how — | 

Put me here, on the seat, and him there, by the i 

plow ! " ! 



MI. 

SUMMER had come ; and with too heated Suns 
Whose lazy pace allow'd lax Nature's strength 
In whim to bud, ere wasting for the grain, 
Came long vacation for the college lad. 
How gladly shunn'd he, in the poet's room, 
Maternal art, with brisk anxiety. 
Fain forcing on the museful student-mood. 
On misanthropic seeming of soul-thought. 
Picnics, tea-parties, and too gushing girls ! 
And how inspiring there the old man's words ! 
There is a time when youth must pass those gates, 
The dismal passages 'neath castle walls. 
That lead up from the park where childhood sports 
To hall wherein the chieftain meets his clan. 
If long the way, if dark, then strongly rear'd 
Those fortress walls of his inheritance. 
Nigh such a change in life, rung out this voice. 
Like some wise counsellor's to the youthful knight ; ■ 
" Yield not thy soul to Earth ; nor body yet 
To Heaven ; become not libertine, nor monk ; 
Strip not, for naked shame, Heaven's virgin soul ; 
Nor shroud warm veins to mourn a lying death ; 
One thing thy birthright bids thee be, a man ! " 



POEM THIRD, 



DOUBTING. 



FATE gave me feelings all my own, \ 
And dreams that others had not known, 
And doom'd me thence to dwell alone. 

Who cares for me in all the street ? ] 

Away, away to drear retreat, ^ 

Along the gloom that throngs through all, | 

I feel the damp and mouldering wall, i 
And up the slimy stairway crawl. 

I reach my home, an attic high, j 

Wherein I weep, and watch the sky, i 

And in my melancholy ply ' 

Long day, long night, and try to earn ! 

The strength and sphere for which I yearn, j 

With mouth to fill, and mind to learn. j 

I'd till, to reap from sweating brain, j 

Much thought, but, slight with all my pain, '■ 

It needs calm nature's sun and rain. j 
Whate'er I gain I'd sow again. 
But who can tell me how or when 

One cultures self for grateful men. i 



DOUBTING 



II. 

I have a hope, of good to see 

Past towering gates of mystery, 

If men would trust the key to me. 

I have a hope, earth's poor might find, 

Behind those walls, a future kind 

Where none are weak, and none can bind : 

And yet, I fear, few let one be 

The full design of destiny. 

Unless install'd by royalty : 

The common eye adjusts its glass 

With larger lens to self, alas ! 

And small and far seem all who pass. 

There's something in ordaining grace. 

That priest and prince of every race 

Have sought through mystic lines to trace. 

Something behind the sword and gown. 

Power apostolic, handed down : 

There are no wise men to the clown : 

The royal mind, in tent or town. 

Owes generous genius for its crown. 

III. 

The whole I do, it is no use. 
The while this devil's cur, abuse, 
Is ever barking at one's heel. 
Provoking sighs, he should conceal. 
And tripping love until it reel. 
To-day I ought to have withstood : 
My aim, oh ! was it not for good 1 
Why did I meet the man I hate "i 



A POEM. 89 

Why did he stand there, in his state, 
Smirk at me, and commiserate ? — 
For anger ? — is that ever wise ? 
Let nature speak, spite all disguise. 
That still will blush to feel it rise. 

IV. 

The heart's a heavenly harp when strung 

For harmony of thought and tongue 

These froward lines of life among. 

What rallying charm where tune is one ! 

But how repelling, such undone ! 

Too oft, in sad comparison. 

Its tones relaxt chord not with others ; 

How can one hope to blend with brothers 

When every nerve, in wildest might, 

Is strain'd to equal passion's hight? 

Alas ! how jars the air we smite ! 

How gentle faces shrink away ! 

" Far better than the wild man's lay. 

Than discord rousing discord aye. 

His rival mild, tho' wrong ! " they say : 

And so they shun one, night and day. 

Oh God ! for skill that comes of prayer, 

To hear thy key-note everywhere. 

Of love, with melody so rare. 

It leaves no ear for harsh tone there. 

V. 

Perhaps, for more self-confidence. 
These men about me, judging thence, 
Might yield my thought more reverence. 



90 DOUBTING: 

I think who do good work should feel 

There's naught enthroned to make right kneel. 

One may have swayful temperament, 

Or may look wisely, or be sent 

With deeper worth not lightly seen ; 

The beasts that kick at such a mien, 

They must be whipt from their disdain ; 

When broken once, they'll mind the rein. 

No power for Worth awaiting place 

Till deed outdo untried disgrace. 

Awake my Soul ! wake every power 

Of prose, or rhyme, and from this hour 

Let Rest grow zealous ! Sleep watch clad ! 

Peace turn a pest ! Contentment mad ! 

And slander'd Skill, with well dealt stroke, 

Conquer its hope — to conquer hope ! 

Come wounds ! Come jeers! where were they miss'd 

By one who sought the noblest list ? 

Zeal ne'er did sigh, but some drone hiss'd : 

" Be dunce with me or egotist ! " 

Wise World ! that better due you grudge us, 

Years hence, you'll better understand ! 

If we work out the good, so judge us ! 

If ill, time then to heat the brand ! 

VI. 

This home of mine, it is a place. 

More dainty doubts might deem disgrace. 

But not its hungry populace. 

For earth is small, and few can find 

The gold to gild the life assign'd ; 

And place is true, and few maintain 



A POEM. 91 

More splendid state than they can gain. 
At first, I bore a wondering mien, 
And oft did mourn when I had seen 
How man could boast yet be obscene ; 
But oh! I feel, as days wear on. 
Vice grown familiar grows less wan : 
The sting of sin wears blunt anon : 
One learns to learn, with so small fear, 
That love and life do not appear 
Full-wedded, in this lower sphere. 

VII. 

At times the door Will shake with knock 

That numbs the air ! I breathe — a shock ! 

I dare not stay, nor dare I go 

To welcome in the drunken foe. 

Again, there sounds a shriller voice : 

I shudder, tho' secure by choice : 

Ideals all unseen by friends. 

The blaze that comes from holy ends, 

All lure of baser lust transcends. 

VIII. 

Sometimes, at midnight's moody hour, 
Mysterious movements overpower. 
I saunter out, explore the hall, 
Afraid of each, but daring all : 
'Twere death to speak, yet would I call : 
I linger long, tho' throbbing heart 
Repeat, — " Depart ! depart ! depart ! " 
Well fearful lest, if fear shall fill, 
Insanity, the glee of ill, 



92 DOUBTING: 

Unbend the bent of wiser will. 
When turn'd, at length, from all before, 
Swift from beneath me flies the floor ; 
And swift, behind is barr'd the door. 
As tho' pursuing monsters ran 
To scath the spirit, and the man. 



IX. 



Ah ! sad is life alone, alone, 

Too sad when Thoughts, once proud to roam, 

Chided and whipt, come mourning home 

With their young ardor overthrown ! 

There was a time when, brave and bare, 

The little hands, so soft and spare, 

Claspt all, and hoped that love was there ; 

Ungloved by fear, claspt everything, 

With every rose to grasp a sting. 

Then shrank to shelter suffering. 

And what are now desires about ? 

Oh ! they have turn'd from deed, to doubt : 

They work within, if not without : 

Oh ! they have turn'd, from world of pain, 

To that still world within the brain, 

Of fancy forming mead and main. 

Back driven from the sunlio:ht sought 

They search through self ! — ah ! thence have 

caught 
Some things, with prime perfection fraught, 
There mirror'd 'mid mild wells of thought. 
I sometimes think — it may not please — 
Restless of ill, it would appease. 
Imagination's a disease ; 



A POEM. 93 

All deepest truths of thoughtful art, 
From quick throes of an injured heart, 
In fever to ply out a dart. 



They call me morbid, — if that be 

A hate of wrong in world and me, \ 

Love only for unseen ideal, j 

And sadness not to find it real, I 

Welcome the name, whoe'er has given : 

Earth's titles cannot bias Heaven. 

Her normal moods may sink and swell, 

At one with a tide that bears to Hell ; 

Maturity — no flush decoys, :] 

Shown spotless for too ardent boys — ' 

Be ashes where Heaven's fire is spent, ; 

Calm, cold, accursed, and content. ' : 

^^' \ 

Accepting need, to dwell alone, j 

Has one robb'd right, who shields his own .? | 

I've, too, deem'd reticence a vice, I 

And to the thought been sacrifice. \ 

My life, I gave men, tho' each nerve j 

Strung for such blows, as mean men serve, \ 

Twangled, for strain that might deserve ^ 

To be the seventh Hell's harbinger ! ; 

My fate, well mark'd, thought I, '11 deter • 

Like vengeance on like sufferer. ! 

Starting to plan some doubtful scheme, i 
" Well frank," I cried, " with self the theme, 
Fools gibber, goblins of the dream. 



94 DOUBTING: 

But wise men, for encouragement, 
May hear what shall make confident." 
'Twas truth : alas a world-wide tale ! 
Not all can conquer without mail : 
What spurs the strong may stab the frail. 

XII. 

To restless limbs, calm sleep were sweet : 

Who cannot sleep may scan the street 

To search for watchmen in their beat — 

Slow dusky forms, with echoing feet — 

I stretch far out, I gaze far round : 

'Tis strange to hear no human sound ! — 

And be so distant from the ground ! 

I fancy I am thrown adown, 

Think how the news will stir the town : — 

" A youth was found stone dead, they say ; " 

"Ah yes, I heard, good day: good day." — 

Ho ! ho ! what now ? why did I start, 

The window slam, with blinds apart ? 

This mirror mocks ! a queer grimace ! — 

Men differ slightly in the face ! — 

And how might this a madman grace ? — 

Oh God ! — but ah ! before I kneel'd 

I found, I felt that stronger shield, 

Where'er Woe bids the spirit yield. 

XIII. 

How near proud Reason's regency, 
That wild Char^^bdis-craving sea, 
That Malstrom of insanity! 
We wander o'er the misty strand : 



A POEM. 95 

There swells the surf ; here stops the land : 

Smooth are the waters ; soft the sand : 

" Prude sister Sense," we cry, " away ! " 

We wade the surge ! we feel the spray ! 

We leap ! — and God prolongs our day ! 

Ah! Holy Wisdom, if Thou be 

The Logos from the Sacred Three 

Whom not to know is misery ; 

And if the wise in Heaven dwell. 

The unwise then — but who can tell ? 

May madness be the mood of Hell ? 

Where He who ruleth, ruleth well ? 

If fiends with their accursed breath 

Can make to tremble lungs of death. 

And into fever'd heat can fan 

A life, for every wish of man, 

A life, whose every wish is pain, 

No world to give, no limb to gain 

The worldly thing to satisfy, 

For which all wish is train'd to vie, 

And so, a worm that cannot die, 

A burning in a quenchless fire, 

An endless life naught save desire, — 

If then, the Passions pester'd sore 

By Passions' lust indulged no more, 

And wrong remember'd o'er and o'er, 

Upspring, and, rousing all reserve 

Oust Reason,- from command of nerve. 

What state can anarchy preserve ? 

What state ? — Oh Christ, I see it rife ! 

And why thy Power, from typic strife. 

Did cast out devils in this life ! 



96 DOUBTING: 

XIV. 

Afaint and far, the midnii::ht bell. 

And watchman's cry! With every knell 

Does Conscience speak : " For Heaven or Hell, 

0\\<t day toward death ! and is all well ? " — 

How uselessly, through wanton ways, 

Men bow and pass these stranger Days ; 

So wrecks, that in an ocean lave. 

Now up, now plunged beneath a wave. 

Steer not, one sinking soul to save. 

But life ! — has life no nobler state 

Than shifting thus to drift of fate ? 

Has man n6 more than hulk to feel 

The lurch of surge along the keel ? 

Tho' course, oft lightly turn'd about, 

Be veer'd away from stronger doubt. 

Come all his motives from without ? 

Are there no powers of deed within, 

The mind's machinery to win, 

A source of strife, a source of sin ? 

Moves not the soul when low depths thrill. 

An image of perfection still. 

And God-like by creative will } 

Or yields not Heaven some gleams to thought. 

Some hopes by Spirit-whispers brought 

To outspeak fears the storms have taught, 

Till holy lights tar lands reveal 

To guide the way of wavering zeal 

To that which mists no more conceal ? 



A POEM. 97 

XV. 

Much have I read, how deep the vale 
Whence some have heard high Fortune hail, 
Who, seizing sword and shield and mail, 
Have found the power to wound the wrong, 
To dash aside its lances long, 
And press between its yielding throng ; 
Till, helmet bright by brunt so vast. 
Wrapt Wonder linger'd where they pass'd, 
And older Glory shunn'd the last- 
Anon they stood above the throng, 
Immortal as the woe of wrong, 
The light and lure of all the strong : 
There peace with power forever dwells : 
A grateful world their story tells: 
Whoe'er repels, all love refels : 
And victory swells unenvied bells. 

XVI. 

Yes, all made men are self-made men ; 
We ask too much of friendship then : 
The soul's best impulse, in the end. 
Is evermore the soul's best friend. 
Truth whisper'd only to our spirit. 
Why mourn, tho' none beside us hear it.'' 
With honor craved, let one be strong 
For worth to make dishonor wrong : 
Or if a sceptre, let one find 
A task befitting sovereign mind. 
No low ambition they work out 
Who seek, with energy devout, 



98 DOUBTING: 

A deed to match God's gift of will, 
With thankful heart, remembering still 
That shallow depths are first to fill, 
And want is not yet stored with ill. 

XVII. 

While men with self are satisfied. 

The things that are, they must abide : 

And but to-day what is is best : 

To-morrow all must move for rest. 

Yet ne'er o'er darkness had begun 

One truth its shining course to run 

But snakes crawl 'd out to hiss the sun : 

'• Who's seen the like ? have you ? have you ? " 

" No never, no, my whole life through ! " — 

" A plague to Job ! it will not do ! " — 

Why should men greet with reverence, 

A thought beyond experience ? 

It were a libel on their sense ! 

Lo ! in Earth's bigot brotherhood. 

The fools alone are understood : 

And only stupid people good. 

But while the rest are dozing late. 

Genius, quick-sighted for her fate. 

Will wonder, wish, and work, and wait : 

Her aim, far fixt for looming schemes. 

Apart from those the world esteems : — 

Else would she know but common themes : — 

We are not always curst, when sent 

By throes of nature's discontent 

To abnormal development : 

We are not curst till we consent. 



A POEM. 

The Faiths that die, first cease to dare. 
Best, if one beacon guide life there. 
Snatch hope from talons of despair. 
And welcome flight with fancies fair. 
In the vague light of ages old, 
The poets were the first who told 
The truths to make late logic bold. 

XVIII. 

If unveil'd vision could divine 

The road that winds this mount of Time, 

And view, but once, in clear outline, 

The glory at the summit's prime ; 

And gaze below where foul mists creep 

Along black waters of the deep. 

Note slippery stones to trip the feet, 

And crags to crush the indiscreet. 

How closely would one watch and tread 

The narrow, narrow path ahead! 

But oh ! should he discover trace 

Of one supremely dangerous place. 

Through thought of others in the race. 

He might forget himself, and try. 

Spite plains too wide, and hills too high. 

To sound alarm with warning cry. 

What tho' the Earth should deem him fool. 

Fanatic, fiend, Chimera's tool ! 

Or hang to tree for witchery! 

If body but swung o'er the danger. 

Sweet dreams might date from deed of grace. 

Corpses, there are, can tell the stranger 

What might have flush'd o'er living face. 



99 



lOO DOUBTING: 

Better Isaiah sawn in two 

Than life complete with nought to do 

But lounge a useless journey through. 

XIX. 

Woe me ! I boast, but cannot be \ 
I may work words, whine out a plea 
Capricious as all misery, 
What then ? — can screaming scare off pain ? 
- Only a rattle of restless brain, 

^Vhat do rhymes buy ? whence comes their gain ? 

There is no gain to earth but gold : 

All bright paths hold but a bruted fold. 

Each jingles his jewels to bob and beck. 

Like a bull with a bell bound over his neck. 

With mob and snob, how can it vie, 

A poet's protest to the lie ? 

Like children caught in pastures lone. 

Truth's noblest forms, to beasts unknown, 

Are gored and trampled and left to moan. 

I search for gold : 'tis full noon-time : 

And only those who Xxy to climb 

Can know how far these hights of rhyme : 

Too slow I go who wait for bread : 

Too hard my task : my strength is sped : 

My health is gone : I shall be dead : 

And leave all life's report unsaid. 

XX. 

What can I do .^ — compared with me 
The slaves I once did think to free 
Are kings ! These chains to liberty 



A POEM. loi 

In one's own conscience clamp, to pest 
Who would, but dare not, do his best, 
AVhile Truth falls dazzled by renown, 
Or Hunger fawns to gilded crown. 
What can I do ? What have I done ? 
Oh God ! where, where is good begun ? — 
With charity and wisdom one, 
God — He may leave the too self-wise 
To rear for self both soil and skies, 
To fume defects, like fogs that rise 
From ill-drain'd pools, and shade for lies 
All boasted visions one may trust : 
A man, thus blind, may be unjust ; 
Where he, descrying forms at bay. 
Cries down vague lions in the way. 
The keener glance of healthy sight 
May find but safest paths to right. 
A man who hears not well may fear 
The restless rumbling of his ear. 
His own diseased and faithless ear. 
And dream that strife is marshaling. 
For Prejudice in everything 
Conjures what worst is rivaling. 

XXI. 

Why should I gaze, to blame the earth. 
When I am woe, and it is mirth .^ 
These men, they live, to joke and dance, 
To feast and sing and sport at chance. 
In happy homes, all hush'd from strife, • 
To love and rest with child and wife ; 
While I, like quack physician trying 



I02 DOUBTING: 

Poisons on self, apart am lying, 

Martyr to what needs not the dying ! — 

What scouts a sickly man's idea. 

Too well to test his panacea ! 

Oh! can there be a wisdom whence 

Not through another's say or sense, 

But through their own experience 

Men learn the space 'twixt earth and sky? 

What folly then moves such as I ! 

Wild wish is mine, too long pursued : 

I follow, but to worsen feud, 

A phantom ; or earth can't be righted. 

Come good by other course incited. 

When into doubtful paths they stray. 

The wise turn back : they're fools that stay. 

Consistent — for that title lacks. 

Where wisdom grows and change attacks, 

Consistent — monomaniacs ! 

XXII. 

Grand it is new life to borrow, 
Like a Spirit dead to sorrow, 
Dead to all Earth's dread to-morrow, 
And, awake to realm of laughter. 
Rise from grief before and after. 
Hail to wit, the wine is bringing ! 
Hail to song from sadness winging! 
Music hail ! when, down from ceiling, 
Bright as heaven where stars are wheeling, 
Echoes bound to earth, there dealing 
Daze and dance to sight and feeling ! 
When such joyous moments coy us, 
Why should graver thoughts annoy us ! 



A POEM. 103 

On the dance ! But ah ! this dancing ! — 

It were better if entrancing 

From the soul-Hfe were appealing 

'Mid the blaze and buzz and wheeling, 

And no lower range of feeling ! 

When her best ideals lure her, 

Only then can forms assure her 

That the soul is growing purer. 

How can pride of sense or spirit, 

For the public eyes that leer it, 

Be embraced and never sneer it ? 

Press'd to breast and never fear it ? — 

Pugh ! — just there the inn-maids head them 

Spite pa's debts, to deck and wed them ! 

Back to music ! Ah ! the music 
Seems all holy when we muse it ! 
Surely woe could never use it! 
All our life we start and wonder 
What the blunder in this under 
World woke Heaven to voice of thunder — 
But 'tis there ! — and strong to sunder 
Like the storms that gather madly 
Round the days that dawn all gladly, 
'Twixt the heart and heavens, sadly 
Steal on holy harmonies 
Thoughts from where no music is. 

Back to feast ! Hurrah ! they cheer it ! 
Here's to health! — What! don't they hear it? 
Here's to health! — What! dare they jeer it? 
Lo : they tremble ! do they fear it ? 



I04 DOUBTING: 

Hark ! — My soul ! — a man has tumbled ! — 
There's a beast ! and God is humbled ! — 
Weeps a wife that ne'er is sleeping ! 
Children, her thin hands are keeping ! — 
Waits a grave where none are weeping ! 

Back from Earth ! There's no fruit in it 
Fit to peel ! When you begin it, 
Curst, you find a worm within it! — 
Fiend 'away ! Who'll hold ? — I never — 
That a devil's hoof should ever 
Roil all springs for faint endeavor ! 
'Tis our eye that sees no season : 
'Tis our ear that heeds no reason : 
'Tis our touch turns joy to treason, 
Joy, no, never meant to curse us. 
But design'd to nerve and nurse us. 
Oh for Right to reimburse us. 
Dawning for such day above all. 
Heaven should guide, where good could love 
all! 

XXIII. 

Sad from self-satiety. 

Why should one shun society ? 

Ah there awake, from dark dejection, 

Those dismal dreams of introspection ! 

There, 'mid the tramp of multitudes, 

God too communes through many moods. 

For much that were not understood 

Where self with self alone did brood. 

And better idiot, 'stride a chair. 



A POEM. 105 .: 

Dreaming a kingdom out of air, 

With stock-still statues for hussars, \ 

With scarfs of knighthood but the scars ^ 

Deep-whipt across a bleeding back, \ 

Than be a man whose soul must lack \ 

The train that waits on Friendship's throne, ; 

For manhood's kingshiip, Love alone. i 

\ 

XXIV. 1 

1 

Blest Love, it reigns in Heavenly hight : ; 

It reigns on earth : but mark its might ! : — , 

I'd have no friend, in dark or light, ; 

AVhose love embraced not love of right. j 

Life's changeful times need righteous mood j 

To judge of mien not understood ^ 

By faith remembering former good, ; 
Faith man as well as God demands 

From soul that nearest to him stands. ; 

Full oft one's doubt or danger could ; 

Express no purpose, if it would, j 

Yet then one likes to be thought good? i 

And oft there comes a need of rest, j 

But earth is like a sick bird's nest, | 

All beaks of fellows at one's breast. \ 

Strange cure ! — yet 'tis an old complaint — \ 

Much, much of love, when only faint, j 

Is peckt to death to make a saint. \ 

XXV. \ 

Know ! in the soul's a deal of yearning ! 

That silent thought is slowly turning i 
To deepest and to highest learning, 



lo6 DOUBTING: 

That can't play mistress to a Why! 
Life, like the sailor, steers to sky, 
If mists, offscourings of the sea. 
Conceal the brightness on the lea, 
It fails in reckoning, may be ; 
Then ye of little faith, oh why 
Crowd ye, like passengers who fly 
In fright to captain, but to ply 
A failure, miracle, or lie ? 

XXVI. 

Ah ! in our good society 
Lies are a link to sympathy ! 
And hearts with widest difference 
Tickled and one at touch of sense ! 
Yet all true love, it loves the soul. 
And naught more lovely can control 
Than Nature frank itself to dole. 
Let foe desert such, friendship dwells, 
Nor fears in truth, behind false spells. 
What saddens sight of beaus and belles. 
I've seen a man and maid, to-day, 
Splashing each other's eyes with spray : 
Enough had he, from depth obscene. 
To please my lady's wistful mien, 
Not vicious all, but proud I ween 
Of vice the patron, wide of eyes 
For him on whom the shamed relies — 
Lust has such luscious flatteries ! 
And wit it wakes, a dash of danger 
With one who's in the mart, a ranger ! 
Of spice it smacks, while he's a stranger, 



A POEM. 107 

While he's a knave and she's a flirt, 

And if they marry, for dessert 

Will find life's game, dish'd up in dirt ! 

XXVII. 

Who culls the grain of friendship knows 

There's little natural now that grows. 

There's little yield except of stalk, 

A hot-house flowering of talk 

From hot-house friendship, with the root 

So little in the soul, 'twill suit 

Quite well to have so little fruit. 

The usual weed's a gossip-shoot. 

The toadstool from what's rotten there. 

A gossip is a scavenger 

Of other people's character. 

And to a man of finer sense, 

Brought up with care in purer air. 

Disgusting are the sediments. 

XXVIII. 

They scarcely let one rest in bed. 
With all their whispers round him sped, — 
Of stupid born and sparely bred. 
Weak tribunes of strong character, 
Too snuggish friends, I do aver. 
Throng every mart, and boast an ear 
Well hugg'd against the heart, to hear 
Each secret lull and throbbing dear. 
AVhy silent not of things unknown ? 
Why force, by tales one cannot own, 
To leave too blusterous love alone ? 



lo8 DOUBTING: 

Rather than figure as the fool '; 

I could inoculate, nor pule, ; 

The chronic kicking of the mule ! I 

Play owl, night's nightmare, with a toot ^ 

Selfish enough to scandal brute ! ; 

And rouse one universal hoot ! \ 

Ay, Earth, it is so full of fangs, i 

To save myself from probe and pangs, j 

I've shrunk again from its harangues, ' 

In garret here, like Death in clouds, j 

Forever grateful there are shrouds i 
Hide worms beneath that coil'd and crost 

From Heaven, half Heaven from what is lost. '\ 

XXIX. 

Yet, 'tis not wholly misery ; 

To be bereft of sympathy ! 

Perchance, a wise Omnipotence ' 

Discloses surface difference \ 

For unity in deeper sense. 

There is a life below this strife \ 

That feels the tender infancy 

Of something grander yet to be. j 

There winds do whisper wish and speech, i 

And shades and shapes have reveries each I 

That guide Interpretation, driven : 

By prophecy, in ecstasy 

To match pure moods of Earth with Heaven. i 

Perchance, when forced to gaze above ' 

For life's completed boon of love, ; 

Glimpses appear of what should be, - 

Till God who must for aye decree ' 



A POEM. 109 

Presence to those in sympathy 

Trails robes of Truth to yearning hours, 

Lighting to right, and luring powers. ^ 

XXX. ■ 

Of late, when I am all alone, 

I pause, and bend before the throne ■ 

Of my delight, Philosophy ! 

A page of her bright train am I ! ' 

With eager soul, but patient eye, ; 

I hie to every moving thing, 

Thence to report of life the spring ! 1 

I fancy earth as fire — or air — i 

Or mind itself, so conjuring there : ^ 

I press against the window pane, :j 

Ask — feels the nerve? or feels the brain? ■ 

What spans this space 'twixt sense and soul ? \ 

Faith ? or the Absolute ? or whole ? 

From flow and ebb of thoughts that roll ? — 

Am I who muse eternally, ^ 

Without responsibility, : 

The vagrant wave of some vast sea ? ■ 

Or am I all ; and earth a lie ? \ 

And nothing better past the sky ? j 

These things about not what they seem ? 1 

And even life itself a dream ? — • 

Comes, truth, I seek through reason clear ? 

Or does short sight, with organs blear, 1 

See all things falsely looming here ? ! 

Then flashes right, like lightning glance ? J 

Or dawns it o'er some dozy trance ? — 

Shall one know more when earth is done ? 



no DOUBTING: 

Reach misery ? or oblivion ? 

Or through some mystic, spiral way, 

Mount Babel bright to bliss for aye? — , 

XXXI. • 

Hold ! Logic labors but to spy 

What those who gaze with scrutiny 

Detect as ancient heresy ! 

Does Church or State then speak the right ? 

Or is it better found by sight 

Of conscience ? or of laws that bless ? 

Or noblest wish ? or happiness ? 

When started once in plainer ways. 

The path, it winds amid a maze 

Where things of hate wake wish unjust. 

And naught ! oh ! naught is left to trust ! 

Then why search I save what is nigh? 

These earthly eyes can never spy 

Above where God lifts up the sky ! 

XXXII. 

Ah! He who rules the sky rules dell! 
Whate'er I doubt, I know full well 
Who made the soul, must it impel ; 
And, tho' the way were black as Hell, 
He moved to truth, who could but feel 
His pathway true to true ideal. 
When sweet and ceaseless calls appeal, 
One cannot, dare not turn away. 
What tho' the victory long delay ! 
A power courageous in the fray 
To rattle rhymes, or beat a drum, 



A POEM, III 

May rouse up spirit by the hum, — 
That spirit for the right at war 
The whole this Hfe is given for ! — 
Yes ! there is truth, I oft have thought, 
One finds when he has only sought ! 

XXXIII. 

Alas ! but still desire will sink, 

Amort of misery to think 

'Tis now full nigh six thousand years 

Since Lamech rhymed away his fears, 

And men have search'd all earth about 

Nor is there yet one less of doubt. 

Oh what can later poet say 

That he has found to aid the way? 

Or how a later poet know 

If good or ill have made him so ? 

Would God ! some eye to scan the whole 

Could but reveal what lures the soul, 

With power that self cannot control. 

Through these long days and sleepless nights, 

So weary, weary from delights ! 

Why should a sense that shrinks from sight 

Press out, to push itself in light, 

A target bright for baser blight? 

Where all things one can hope are good, 

All gleams of individual mood. 

Are flouted, or misunderstood? 

I'd not wink greatness, if I could : — 

Alive, a wonder-animal 

Poked up by all things rational, 

Barr'd back from truth by scrutiny, 



112 DOUBTING: , 

From love by inequality : — ' j 

When dead, with bones dress'd out to be 

The puppet of biography, 

Forced now to dance too high, too low, ; 

Too blest for friend, too base for foe \ 

To please the men who make him go ; • 

For ill with good immortal years, • 

That ill the humbler never fears 

From lands beyond this vale of tears. 

Ye fools, with faith in fame, relent ! : 

Ah ! this was never what they meant, ; 

Those men of truth whose footsteps went - \ 

Through life that was one long ascent, \ 

They looked beyond a monument! ] 

i 

xxxiv. I 

My mind seem'd wild from wilder'd thought. i 

I paced the stilly night, and sought j 

Rest from the rest about, above, \ 

Something to teach me more of love. ! 
I reach'd a church, with open door. 

Whence strains along the air did pour, i 

The air that trembled, as it bore ; 

This sacred sound of holy lore : ^ 

XXXV. j 

1 

" God of Heaven, and man of manger, 

Jesus, heed the need of stranger, ' 

Wander'd far in way of danger, j 

Wise no longer where to flee. i 

Holy Source of love and learning, | 

Hear a soul whose doubt is yearning, \ 
From despair and anguish turning, 
Turning only unto Thee. 



A POEM. 113 • 

** Not regarding means or measure, ; 

I haye sought through pain and pleasure, | 

What the world can give to treasure, \ 

But alas ! all fail to be, ] 
By the deep love of Thy mission, 
By the deeds for high ambition. 

By the gains of full fruition, ] 

Aught that Thou dost promise me. \ 

"From my guilt and from pollution i 

I have wrought for restitution 1 
Through the skill of resolution. 

All my will proves false to me. \ 

Far beyond my best endeavor 1 

Peace and pardon find I never, i 

Never love and right together : 1 

Thou hast promised liberty. \ 

" Past the methods and the mazes \ 

That the search of science dazes, \ 

Past the knowledge and the praises ■' 

That the earth can give to me, 

From the farthest hights of learning, '\ 
My desires must still be turning , ' 

Toward the stars forever burning, • 

Heaven and immortality. -i 

i 

"What can faith do? — Lord, I feel it: j 

Bible, History, Thought reveal it : I 

Christian lives and conscience seal it : — i 

All true life begins with Thee ! 
Base of wish and low of thinking. 

From each nobler duty shrinking, ] 

And with strength impair'd and sinking, ] 

Where beside can sinner flee ? ] 

■ j 

** What if heart can boast no feeling, | 

Languid through its need of healing, I 

8 ■ 



114 DOUBTING: 

Fill'd with pride still, still concealing 

Self and self-made misery ? 
When my soul has seen Christ dying, 
When has heard His prayer and sighing, 
, Oh, it feels that Love replying 
Lingers not for worth in me. 

" Nay ! with Thine, all love possesses ! 
Nay ! with Thine, all truth progresses ! 
Nay ! with Thine, all pure life blesses ! 

Thou canst be all things in me ! 
Oh, take. Lord, my Heart's donation, 
All I own, in each relation. 
Only to Thy free salvation 

Would I longer dare to flee ! " 



XXXVI. 

Scarce into silence sank the song, 

Before came forth, in accents strong, 

That calmed the rustling of the throng 

As words of " peace ! " above the sea 

When hush'd the troubled Galilee, 

A text ! and I, who stood there hearing, 

I too felt calmness come to fearing, 

A depth of peace reflecting of devotion 

As heaven from lake where lingers no commotion 

And like to voyager with memory 

Still fresh to moods that mused a peaceful sea, 

Does that then heard and felt remain to me. 

» 

XXXVII. 

" ' The Truth — The Truth shall make you free ! ' Our souls 
Feel conscious of subjection. Throned o'er act 
And wish, they feel a Power to punish them 



A POEM. 115 

And prompt obedience. Men name this Power 

In varied terms — their conscience, their ideal : 

All hold it Truth, a Truth revealing laws 

For nature, circumstance and destiny : 

And, by as much as few live true to it, 

By so much few can fail to feel it chide. 

To all who would escape it it is proved, 

By Omnipresence, not produced by self's 

Reluctant will ; and, by its claims on love, 

Akin to personal authority 

With source no fancy, nor abstract idea. 

But concrete life altho' a Spirit life. 

And when one man of holy deed declares 

Himself the King of Kings, the Spirit's Lord, 

' I am the Truth ! ' why should Faith doubt the word ? 

If miracles and prophecies sustain'd. 

If progress of the years confirm the claim, 

Seems Truth in Person strange 1 Has earth no need, 

No deep desire for one to incarnate 

This spiritual sway, that He be model .'' 

And teach pure laws inspired to guide toward right .'' 

And in the soul incite what germinates, 

And grows, and bears fruit for the Spirit's life .'' 

Oh ye ! with conscience sad for thought or deed, 

If sadness do result from Power Divine, 

Think not without deep change to 'scape the state 

That He ordains. Such effort fails. The laws 

Of Truth but work your wrath : all strife to spite 

But works your hatred, like to rebel's strife 

That but makes clear a king's authority. 

The Truth can never change. 'Tis ye must change 

To love its rightful rule. Ay, once love Truth, 

All duty shall be freedom. See this Truth, 

Through Truth Incarnate dying on the cross ; 

Learn thence how much of love there is in God ; 

Learn that from Him comes all to make life blest ; 

E'en while you learn, instinct as nature. Love 

Shall follow Him, the while His Spirit prompts 



ii6 DOUBTING: 

And cause pure deeds, obedient to each law 
Without this goading consciousness of sin ! 
Would you be free, incarnate Truth in self. 
His Spirit of all Truth, Heaven cannot bind ! 

" Reach freedom thus for Nature in desires. 
Oh ! have you never felt that heart of life 
Which, through the unseen arteries and veins 
Of Spiritual Being, still propels 
An Omnipresent ebb and flow ot Love ? — 
Desires that search far ofi" in thoughts, that steal 
Stillness from sleep, and rest from reverie ? — 
The lonely wishes of the single soul, 
Oppress'd from sense of sunder'd sympathy. 
Struggling to meet the universal Whole ? — 
Dream not to sate these wants by earthly gains ! 
Impell'd to such, the boy would be a man ; 
Maids blush for maidenhood ; and lovers kneel ; 

. Then fiercely strive for wealth ! and power ! and fame ! 
Aiming at fullness still beyond their reach. 
Till wasted strength shrinks back infirm of zeal, 
Or holds all earth, to feel e'en that too small, 
All Alexander's pride but vanity ! 
For oh ! Desire, it seeks the Infinite ; 
The life of nature, not the make of art ; 
To be at one Avith God, the Life of Truth ! — 
And need ye ask what Power can join to God ? — 
Ah His, who bore our sins that faith be free 
From fear of justice and from doubt of love 
And learn of character first blest above, 
His Truth shall bring desire to liberty ! 

** Reach freedom thus for Nature's destined deeds. 
Poor finite, frail and over-burden'd soul. 
Be not abash'd of self. Truth shall succeed. 
Here is a place where weakness, well confess'd, 
Surrenders naught. Nay ! nay ! it chooses part 
Where Pride could ne'er attain nobility ! 



A POEM. 117 

Where Self kneels down, to rise, a royal priest 

In the grand chancel of Humanity ! 

Before its shrine, there's no one, not the least, 

But has his mission, station'd between Earth 

And Heaven, half spirit, half mortality, 

To take that loan of life receiv'd at birth, — 

Its germ, its growth, and all its .varied grain, — 

And offer it, like to that greater Priest 

Who offered more, a willing sacrifice 

Upon that altar where this human soul 

Is put to test of strife with Heaven-sent flames ; 

Then from experience, his lone legacy. 

To cull tried relics of the Spirit's life, 

Deep worth disclosed, and preservations grand 

Of common things our use profaner slights ; 

And dower'd with these, before all earth to stand, 

Sacred of self for what the self reveals. 

Both victim and the seer, hushing Earth's fears 

And doubtful murmurs by sublime appeals 

Taught through the language of life's work fulfill'd. 

Oh ye ! who crave faith, faith in what ye are. 

No selfish wish need that be, if ye crave 

No praise for frailties known, but shun afar 

With equal dread false flatteries and frowns ! 

On ! Onward still ! God speed ye, restless souls ! 

Claim manhood's mission, clear acknowledgment 

Of royal priesthood ! honor for your truth ! 

And, with your own, the world's development \ 

" Live self! but not for self, remembering aye 
For one, for all, the Truth brings liberty ! 
For self, free hearts, free hands ; for others, charity ! 
It is no selfish bearing slights repute 
In Godly consciousness of Truth ideal. 
Still more and more do heirs of higher weal. 
With lips to worldly blame and praises mute, 
Love each in each the Truth that makes all free. 
Ah ! when men learn how Infinite that is, 



Ii8 DOUBTING: 

And how diverse on earth its ministries, 

There is a reverence here for word and deed ; 

If one but feel Truth gains the victory, 

A soul contented, e'en though self may fail : 

Or if one feel Lie thrives, still strong is faith 

From love more Lord-like, while afar yet near, 

Less than whole love, but more than interest, 

Love that can waive a full complacency 

In deference to the worth each may attain. 

And thoughts of Christ, prompting to missions here 

With help for all who need, and hope that shall be blest ! " 

XXXVIII. 

Have I found faith ? — The faith my Hfe did 

covet 
I deem shall come not all through thinking of it. 
It may be, 'spite the monk's abstraction, 
The consciousness of life is action, 
And goodly grain is best reveal'd 
Not far fr(3m harvest plain conceal'd, 
But to the one who tills the field. 
Ah, tho' I may still doubt, I know 
Of prayer when Heavens do overflow 
For showers of bliss, e'en though below. 
And Words I read of truthful prime 
That do not sound like words of Time, 
In joy or sorrow all sublime. 
And Love I watch that springs apace. 
Through sun and storm alike to trace, 
And all who live it grow in grace. 



• A POEM. 119 

XXXIX. 

Do these suffice? — I think, perchance, 

That where these lines of Truth advance 

Man has not right of ordinance. 

Oh ! if it be Experience 

Need rescue wish from negligence 

In thought or deed, the long years hence 

May prove all blows but benefit 

From which wise Doubt learns to submit ; 

From which an unwise Trust in it, ^ 

While fails some low support of love. 

Is slowly taught to look above. 

Earth needs that lesson! I descry 

Who glorify the Lord on high 

Reveal His beauty through their own, 

And purify the men who vie 

Attracted by the God-like shown. 

XL. 

With soul not shown, too much of art 
Is made for lips to fit the heart. 
Not skill to chide another's pride 
Shall make one wise or welcome guide. 
Who best provokes to patient deed 
First traces best his own first need. 
Be his need great, and other's small, 
He may be less yet more than all. 
Nay all, perchance, have equal call 
With ill to bear, and good to share, 
And, whether it be full or spare, 
Some truth to show the Christ-like there. 



I20 DOUBTING: A POEM. 

Let then the Spirit's voice be heard, 
Tho', like to warbled wish of bird, 
Wise only through vague sounds of word, 
The men who hear and turn to sky 
I will believe, if love be nigh. 
Are blest tho' heaving but a sigh. 
Who wants to fill the earthly throne 
Birth gave him not ! far better own 
One's self, and live one's self alone. 



FA. 

YOUNG was the village pastor for his work ; 
And young his wooings of well worded thought, 
Offer'd as some young beau presents his hand, 
As tho' high color'd kids held first of rank 
With her whose heart he'd lure to Paradise ! 
So far in life, study, meant most for brain, 
And healthy growth, where heart fills out the last. 
Had made him deal more cream from nice reviews 
To sate a dainty taste, than solid meat 
To nurture muscle for the strength of spirit. 
With firmer faith in intellect that sketch'd 
Harsh pictures of the soul, than in the soul 
Which God had made an image of Himself, 
He'd judged of men, as some men judge of flowers. 
Not on the stalk, but pluck'd and press'd in books ; 
And deem'd the Catholic Church, not quite so broad 
As one long ride his student days had known 
'Twixt Andover and Princeton ; and each school 
Of Christian Charity, a place to prove 
How all beside one's self are in the wrong. 
So strange looks interchanged the while he read ; 
But some, recalling more love in late themes, 
Nor yet one word less orthodox, surmised : — 
Perchance, of late, he had been learning too. 



POEM FOURTH. 



LEARNING. 



I. 



ONCE, when I moved with those who walk'd by 
sight, 
Came ways where Faith did pause to ask the right. 

And words directing that made doubts increase, 
So thwarting gains before, and present peace. 
Sad then, and spirit spent, my life did veer. 
As tho' to seek a clearer atmosphere. 
From words of others, and from whims of mine, 
To muse with Nature .as with Thought Divine. 

II. 

'Mid woods and streams, my mood detected soon, 
Dim-lighted by the reverent-minded Moon, 
A temple, grown to shape where ivy-twined 
Elms of wide trunk about far sides did wind 
Of aisles, still sinking through a wild of naves ; 
Where years had bowed ambitious Architraves 
For art complete, for roof through skill of Showers 
Aye freshly fretted ; and where fervent Flowers, 
Fever'd and prostrate Nature's lord to greet, 
Died for a dust of fragrance 'neath the feet. 



124 LEARNING: 

III. 
Anon, before me gleams a brook whose shore 
I follow, flashing bright, — while Rays explore 
Through tilt uplifted by the curious Wind — 
A silver pavement, which rare jewels bind 
To the long floor : and, motionless, each side. 
All powerless to resist that lulling tide, 
In arms of fondling Boughs do white Mists sleep 
Like spirits chaste, trustful in Winds that sweep 
With bugle-blast far off, and, drawing nigh, 
Shall, on the morrow, waft them to the sky. 

IV. 

Meanwhile, the night is not devoid of sound : 
Weird whispers prompt to thought of dreams around. 
Mysterious moods of water wind and wing 
Insect and beast, with long-drawn echoing, 
Low-music, lingering lovingly along 
The dew-drugg'd, perfume-drowsy air, as song 
From bay-bound ships through dull November calms ; 
It sways the listening soul, as pensive psalms 
That breathe mild melody from organ reeds, 
Distilling gently while the strain proceeds. 
Do fuse a sweetness through the atmosphere, 
Our heaving breasts inhale, as well as hear. 

V. 

Calm as such chorals to the sense devout. 
Came calmer nature to the course of doubt. 
With gratitude for each cool touch of Air 
That soothed the fever'd nerves, I rested there. 



A POEM. 125 

Amid my peace then, lo ! another came, 
Whose soul-ful face woo'd from the soul a claim 
Of sympathy complete, ere either spoke ; 
But last, his voice reluctant reverie woke : 

VI. 

" Who does not love, 'mid shades and sounds like 

these 
Most charming from suggested mysteries. 
To throw aside, or strive to throw at least, 
The learning of our Times, and cull a feast 
From superstition ; and half envy freaks 
With which mad Fancy fool'd those flighty Greeks ? 
I know the Present has, in deeds, more right. 
And more strength for the deeds ; still is its might 
A boy's o'ergrown, — long legs and arms for strife, 
But heart and lungs are weak. Deep wants of life 
We value not. This home of Nature, grown 
A common sight, our restless days disown : 
And we forget that mysteries too are true ; 
And we forget about the distant blue ; 
And we forget about the silent pall ; 
And Faith, the only thing that fathoms all. 

VII. 

"Better than no faith, faith that yEolus 
Restrains the storms, so gentle Zephyrus 
For his fair wife may tune, 'mid fragrant bowers. 
These sweeter strains ; to praise, in such mild hours, 
That lutes and boots and mantles scowls and 

showers 
Of wilder winds are gone ; that no fierce rite, 



126 LEARNING: 

No Furinalia could have claim'd such night 

As parent; that no Thuellai affright, 

No wench with vulture claws and serpent form 

Crawls out the stream, or blusters through a storm ; 

That voices from Pelorus lure none here ; 

Narcissus boughs and wool do not appear 

All matted o'er hag-faces, chuckling near 

The grim fixt mask of Fate ; that Naiades 

Flit here ; and, from fond homes, the Dryades 

Chime sweetest cheer with serenading groups 

Of truant minstrel-Hamadryad troops ; 

That Napaeae wake chorus through the vale \ 

That eager Echo speeds her flight to hail 

The long array of Oread choirs, whence quiver 

The mountain-answers to the sea and river. 

VIII. 

" Better than no faith, faith that would not doubt 

That Graces and frail Hours trip about 

With Fauns, and jolly rustic retinue 

Of Bacchus ; or, just as the carvers drew 

Round Pyrrhus' agate, on some greener spot, 

Join'd hand in hand, all other cares forgot — 

The scrolls and wands and masks and marks of 

craft, 
And merry o'er a fresh Castalian draft. 
With tongue and tread, the sacred Nine aspire 
To vie with zest of Cynthius' nervous lyre, 
While, ruling all, the reeds of Syrinx play, 
And blend accordant each else diverse lay/' 



A POEM. 127 

IX. 

He rose to go ; and I, who, well pleased, heard, 

Rose too and foUow'd him. Without a word 

We saunter far, like Pilgrims near the shrine 

Of long sought mosque, who clip the thin-spun line 

Of speech, and do not wish one other gree, 

Than, in the soul, that sense of Deity. 

At length, " Oft do I marvel," he began, 

" At man and world, so wisely one of plan ! 

An atom changed, and vapory means might swarm 

To dim these heavenly hues ! yes, bury form 

Till it seem'd dead deformity ! outweigh 

All sweet breath of the flowers ! and muffle aye 

This music, fit to charm anew who hears, 

'Mid holy air, more music of more spheres ! 

X. 

" And yet, all life's our own life ! Shapes, to see, 

Loom not beyond the Sight's capacity ! 

And all life grows with us ! and keenest sense 

May sate of much, for much indifference ! 

Full many a Will, whose effort can compress 

In climax crowded for suggestiveness, 

Like rays in focus. Truth's whole range to bless. 

Might thankfully surrender half the sway 

Well polish'd power can wield, to be the prey 

Of things that thrill'd his youth, so these reveal 

That beauty he discerns, but cannot feel ! 



I2S LEARNING: 

XI. 
" All beauty can lead upward those inclined 
To its intent. The wise and holy find 
This round horizon — not a peopling mist 
Of whims embodied to the polytheist — 
This round horizon, where such wonders mass, 
A strange strong lens, like Claude Lorrain's, a glass 
Condensing great thoughts of one God, to fit 
Their comprehension. But Heaven must emit 
New blaze, I fear, compared with which, sunlight 
Shall seem but gray ! as lightning it must smite ! 
Ere one faint spark shall cheer the sense of moles ! 
Of blind who turn their back on Heaven and goals 
Above, who burrow Stygian mire of earth, 
And tomb their souls from all that life is worth, 
Its language to the spirit ! Ah, dim Skies ! 
When shall some universal dawn arise ; 
Fill space, for once, with claims so vast that fear 
Shall overwhelm each groveling purpose here. 
All wills bent low, till, gazing toward the blue, 
They cry, with Paul, * What wilt Thou have me do .'" 

XII. 

" Weak mortal men may all be priests ! — high 

priests 
Of Nature ! who shall gather up from beasts, 
And birds, and creeping things, and the dumb earth, 
And senseless skies, else but a blank in dearth 
Of sentiment, the germs of praise in each ; 
And, adding to their substance then a speech 
Of soul, breathe from the truths that all record 



A POEM. 129 

A tale, a life of glory to the Lord. 
Ah, such Shechinah can dwell with each heart, 
Make all His shrine whence worship shall impart 
Praise, praise to every scene of life and art ! " 

XIII. 

Here, stealing silence from his final word, 

I ask'd, in reverence for the thoughts I heard, 

Who it might be that thus communed with me ? — 

" A man whose study is humanity," 

He answer'd. " Oft," said I, " one finds that name. 

Humanity, an ill-disguising claim 

Of those whose sense of human worthiness 

Loves man not more, but only God the less. 

Yours seems not so. I ween your scrutiny 

For good seeks God and not humanity .'' " 

XIV. 

" Both," he replied ; " deem you His coin a fraud .'' 
Shall one not seek His stamp, to learn of God } 
Shall one not search His image "i — for I fear it, 
They see but sense who search not for the Spirit ! " 
" Alas ! " rejoin'd I, " Once my soul did dare 
To seek Him thus ; but found doubt only there. 
All the small trust I have scarce bides a prayer. 
Of man, thought grows mature but to grow sad ;. 
And learns the more, the more to learn of bad." 
" Are you quite sure," said he, " one could not add 
That 'tis a morbid mood, bilious complaint 
Frets, finding Earth no Heaven, nor man a saint ? 
I've known a healthy Faith gaze round the ring 
To trace with joy some good in everything." 
9 



130 LEARNING : 

XV. 

" Hearken ! " continued he, " who treads this hill 
May reach that place at which, with stronger will, 
The Prince of Good withstood the Prince of 111. 
From yon high peaks, which touch Eternity, 
Kingdoms of earth that were, and some to be, 
Lie present to the eye of History." 
" But," .said I, shrinking back, " dwells 111 still 

here ? " 
" Yes," answer'd he, " well those w^ho walk with 

fear ; 
But well repaid. Time comes, in lives of men. 
When things, once tempting, do not tempt again." 

XVI. 

Thus speaking he advanced ; myself meanwhile 

With hesitation following. Far we file 

Past brook and crag, till, opening from a dell, 

Comes sudden precipice, adown which fell 

A stream in silence, then thunder'd farewell 

A thousand feet below ! Huge mountains bow * 

In reverence beneath, rich- wreathed of brow. 

And robed of shoulder with those legacies 

Translated Summer drops from closing skies. 

Glancing to vales beyond, I sought to recall 

Place where I was. " Look ! " said my Guide, " how 

small 
The objects there ! all men appear the same ! 
Not one can force his own peculiar claim 
Up through so slight a distance ! Trust to see, 
When nearer Heaven, still more equality." 



A POEM. 131 

XVII. 

Then added he, " What gain for thoughtful toil ! 
What harvests 'mid such stretch of sky and soil ! 
What food for wisdom in one nook alone ! 
Here, such a feast to feed new growth is strown, 
That, like the slave who snuffs and waits the bone, 
One culls all joy of thought ere he collects, 
Skips the slow course, and has its throng'd effects ! 
Yet even now we pause not Mark you rays 
To right of those far peaks that merge in haze ? 
Then nigh, where looms a loftier mountain range, 
As though a storm were still'd by peace so strange, 
Or on the verge of strife reclined for slumber ? 
Where forms from clouds above, and without num- 
ber, 
Press onward with such vague solemnity, 
And not, as near here, tripping merrily 
To music of these swaying pines ? — to-night 
Scenes hidden yet by that range claim the sight ; 
We must move on and up : " — which saying, then 
He forth began to climb, 'twere hard to pen 
Through what long wastes of ledge and brake and 
fen. 

XVIII. 

But, on a high, broad cliff his quick pace ceast, 
And thence, the while he points far toward the east, 
I can descry, upon a greener field 
Swept of the cumbering trees, — but half conceal'd 
'Mid smoke and incense whiter than its own 
Pure marble hue, — an altar ; nor alone ; 



132 LEARNING: 

Soon, standing nigh, or knelt in reverent fear. 
Do white-robed multitudes of priests appear. 
Then, many people more ; all search a sign, 
Some movement amid victims on the shrine ; 
And, ever and anon, borne o'er the blast, 
Do loftier fragments of deep praise float past, 
Soft interrupted strains which beat the air 
As tho' vibrations from the wings of prayer. 
Just as I seek to learn the cause of all, 
The smoke, grown dense, ascends, a darkening pall. 
Unwrapping through successive folds, and spreads, 
As Paripanou's tent, above the heads 
Of the vast throng, past all foretoken'd size ! 
Thence upward carried, each fresh current vies 
To sprawl its dingy wings along the skies. 
Like that grand hypocritic drapery o'er 
The pyre of dead Pompeii, rear'd of yore 
By her fierce executioner, the grim 
Vesuvius ! swift, like that, does it dim 
All objects, save its own mass hovering 
On high, here shading and there covering 
The moon and struggling stars ! ere long it takes 
New shapes ! Another blast of tempest shakes 
Its length ! when sally forth foreboding forms. 
Like thunder-clouds far grasping out in storms ! 
And then, as tho' a frame of life, they lower 
Heaven- wide ! the limbs of some stupendous Power 
Resting on air ! while Scrutiny would wait, 
He slowly moves ! his mighty breasts inflate ! 
His giant fingers touch the yielding space ! 
^' Watch ! " cries my Guide, " watch well, and you 
shall trace 



A POEM. 133 

Creations new ! bright surges, dark mirtlock, 

And patals, wliere foul bands of Nardman flock, 

Flow forth to fill the heavens ! Brahma ! again 

I see thee ride above the Indian main. 

Borne on thy lotus-car, while Truth began 

To gild the dreams of youth and guide the man ! 

XIX. 

" Ah thought was crystallized to make a world ! 

Be He the southern Kneph, or He who hurl'd, 

'Mid frozen climes, the heat from Muspellheim 

Into Ginnunga-gap, or He with prime 

Efficient will discern'd 'mid twilight dim 

Of Grecian lore, and many a prayerful hymn, 

All nations feel a God, e'en through thick mist 

Of Earth-fumed theory cannot resist 

Suggested thoughts of One who doth sustain 

And did create the universe. In vain 

Immortals strive for rest, who have no vows 

For that First Source, before whom Conscience bows 

Conscious of wise and moral Governor. 

Let Hindoo be our soul's interpreter 

With proofs of God that Hell may be more sad. 

With Siva to develop from the bad 

And Vichnu savior join'd with Brahma, One, 

A Parabrahma, union such as none 

Can comprehend, as binds three Persian Powers, 

As shifts for aye the dark* Egyptian hours, 

With three dejotas merged in Trimurti, 

Where learn'd the soul this thought of Trinity ? 

Was He, whose name His chosen dared not trace, 

One with Jehovah of another race 



134 LEARNING: 

Which named Him not, who promised to redeem 
A world from wretchedness, and wake a dream 
Of peace with Heaven's full blessedness ? Ah ! who 
With eyes and ears shall find naught that is true ? 
Amid the worst, some whiff of right has given 
Fresh breath to Faith that totters on toward 
Heaven." 

XX. 

I look'd. The shape had vanish'd. Left behind 
Is naught but smoke which now does gently wind 
About the stars. Then, when these gleam amain 
From the clear'd sky, he shows me, o'er the plain 
Those obelisks, " the son of Mitres rears 
To meet and match the rays of worshipt spheres. 
Chaldee ! " he sigh'd, " If stars be numberless 
To man, has therefore God such feebleness ? 
Ye clove the sense of His Infinit}^, 
To name each whit a god, in mockery ! 
Minerva sprang from Jove, but Jove survived. 
Thy Vulcans struck for idols, Truth still thrived : 
And shall thrive, till no priests, like thine, shall revel, 
Belus ! first incarnation of the devil ! " 

XXI. 

While speaking, he had turn'd, and left that scene 
For region rough with mounts. Past Mosses lean 
And mourning Pines, from many an aspiring home 
Fleet Torrents dash, excited but to foam. 
More modest, in more quiet walks beneath. 
Bright genial Springs succeed, 'mid grateful Heath, 
Reflecting light from open skies above. 



A POEM. 135 

Nigh one, sweet to intoxicate to love, 

" Behold you," said my Guide, " that glimmering 

nave 
Form'd from the cragged arches of this cave ? 
'Tis carved with symbols the great magus gave. 
Within, seven blazing dadgahs light his plan 
To overthrow the power of Ahriman. 
Well for his fame, that the wise seer found signs 
So full of hope ; could picture in such lines 
That Zend Avesta lured the peoples' heart ; 
Show Mithras, not for aye, with threaten'd art, 
In twilight time, preserving peace between 
The white-mail'd Ormuzd and his foe obscene 
Dark Ahriman, but crown'd where every spirit. 
Named sinless from Tschinevad. should inherit 
Unclouded realms of endless day, once more 
Good only reigning supreme as of yore. 

XXII. 

' ' But Zoroaster was not last, nor first 

To learn of life by which the world is curst. 

Nay ! name him Typhon, Loki, Moisasure, 

Who does not ask, how long shall 111 endure ? 

Well welded locks and legal barriers 

By which the best philanthropist avers 

A worst distrust ; the long lewd list of crimes 

In lawyers' lore ; the armies of all times. 

With men so pleased to man them ; Anarchy 

That sweeps with waves of blood for misery 

Where bayonets rear no breakers ; Toil that schemes 

For self, and stores another's ; Rest that dreams 

Of vice and wakes in vileness ; Conscience, Care, 



136 LEARNING. 

Disease, and Death ; — alike one record bear 

To handling of an ill power gone before, 

With tampering clear to all, but clear the more 

To those who are most keen to spy the right ; 

Where blear eyes blink, but health detects the blight." ,. 

XXIIT. 

The cave, pass'd by, shoots through thick-wooded. 

path, 
Like furnace fires at gloaming, many a shaft 
Of light which routs the perils of the way 
And haunts uncertain Night with ghosts of Day. 
But woods and rays, at length, give place to plain 
From which I gaze up toward the mounts again. 
There do I note, upon a summit tall. 
Some stealthy Mists. Anon, they seem to crawl 
Along the hights, and lengthen out, and show 
They are but first of others, gathering so. 
These soon close up behind them, with low hum, 
Repeated loud, ere long, by more that come. 
Now one can hear that anxious Leaves afar 
Are all astir ; and then, 'mid blast and jar. 
See Shades, just slumbering, wake on every side, 
And round about in strange confusion stride. 
And with good cause ! above their swift dismay. 
Huge Tempests crowd each peak ; with an array 
As terrible, as fallen fiends who went 
From black despair to storm the battlement 
Of Heaven ! And fiercely, foully do they vie 
To break the lines of Light, 'twixt earth and sky I 
With sad success ! They carry each redoubt ! 
And, bounding down with thunder-tread and shout. 



A POEM. 137 

Their weapons flash and clash along the rocks, 
Where howls the Waste beneath their deathly shocks ! 

XXIV. 

Glancing aside for refuge from the storm, 

Lo ! I saw men, in diverse dress and form, 

Kneeling all round me ; and, with less of pride, 

I had kneel'd too, had not, just then, my Guide 

Said, while he led me toward a shelter near : 

" Yes ! well may pagan kneel to God ! well fear. 

When storms like this descend from upper air. 

That He, in anger, sits on summits there ! 

No wonder Greek should deem, in place like this 

The home of Superhadean deities ! 

Here, for his soul conjure those fancied peers, 

The scepter'd shadows of foreboding fears ! 

That Spartan dared not brave Olympus' shocks ! 

Nor shepherd near Amanus with his flocks ! 

That Persian bow'd to Bordj, or grand Meru 

Subdued the haughty Kooleenu ! 

Not strange that priests should claim just laws were 

given 
On peaks, so far from Earth, so near to Heaven ! 
Cite, too, palladia, by heathen shown. 
And carved with duties, changeless as their stone, 
The Thunder's Brontia, Caetylia, 
Dread Dysares of hush'd Arabia, 
Heliogabalus, Teutonic rainbow urns, 
The image which bereaved Pessinus yearns, 
Nahadeo, and countless such believed 
Warnings, heaven-sent, e'er since The Ten received ! 
But, think you, 'mid the storms, which is the foe — 



138 LEARNING : 

Self? or the lightning that lights up its woe? 
If sin feel death deserved, no less a due, 
If He, who claims a death, the life own too, 
Spoke Love or Hate from Sinai's dreaded throne 
To give another life, and guard one's own ? — 
How dear the soul for which men would atone. 
What witnesses are sacrifices sad. 
From Moloch down to Tauroboliad ! " 

XXV. 

" You yield," I interposed, " much reverence 

To heathen worship ? " " Yes, there is a sense 

In which all faith," said he, " springs from the true. 

Denying that, one's choice lies 'twixt the two — 

An ignorance to palliate bigotry. 

Or else no Christian ground for charity. 

And granting that, I deem, who trusts the soul, 

Tho' not its fruit sin grafted, trusts the whole, 

Trusts God and Revelation, sure to find 

But one religion suited for the mind. 

Ah, faith there is, whence Doubting seems to be 

The haunted fool of flimsiest Misery ! — 

Of film, whose folds deceptive will transpire, 

Whift off by breathing of one live Desire ! — 

Imagination's freak, appearing wise. 

Not when the spirit searches deep to prize 

The genuine make of God, but when its reach 

Ends with this human-manufactured speech. 

Doubt comes to him who courts a wordish war, 

And dreams that skill in such is conqueror ; 

To Surface-Learning, and to fickle Trust, 

Dazzled by Creeds that Sight cannot adjust. 



A POEM. 139 

Look for the soul ! tear sensuous myths ! E'en guise, 

Deserving well all curse of prophecies, 

May show beneath some Truth, not wholly mute, 

To teach salvation through a substitute ! 

Faith ! hope ! love ! longing ! deeds by which men 

rise 
From Eden's loss to gain of Paradise ! " 

XXVI. 

We moved to leave the mounts, but soon enslaves 
Our Path a blustering Flood. Wide sweep the 

waves ! 
They scarce more widely laved lone Ararat, 
When erst did cease that voyage long wonder'd at, 
While varied tongues and titles spake of one 
Noas, Seisithrus, or Deucalion, 
Father of men, and farmer of the vine. 
With ship and dove their universal sign 
To keep that memory of deeds divine ! 
Long stand we by the waves, and watch their 

strife. 
Then last, he names, as Typhon and his wife. 
Dark forms whose cautious footsteps grow along 
The mire upon the shore. Soon, muscles strong 
By hate, they shove far through the tide a chest 
In which the limbs of meek Osiris rest. 
The savior of a world they would destroy ; 
Then sneak away more Virtue to decoy. 
Well timed their haste. All 111 is track'd by 

Good. 
Not far, wise Hermes moves to trace the flood, 
And name its destined hight He lifts his brows; 



I40 LEARNING: 

But while he notes their deed, through noiseless 

boughs 
A mellow Light advances toward the stream, 
'Mid which, like stars through mists, shine eyes 

whence gleam 
Powers from a soul behind some surface-tears 
Unmoved as Heaven beyond Earth's showery fears. 
Despite much wrath, despite dishevell'd tress. 
Thrice beautiful is Isis in distress ! 
She hunts for her lost spouse ; and with her is 
The faithful but abortive Anubis. 
Intent upon their aim, they seek great Thoth. 
Watch, now, how gods can love whom they be- 
troth ! 
How heart can vivify that thing, the face ! 
Still eyes flash force ! substantial muscles trace 
The spirit's ebb and flow ! emotion pulse 
Through moveless cheeks ! how very woe exults ! 
She waves her hand toward Heaven ! The gloom 

withdraws ! 
Light bursts the sky ! and sudden warmness thaws 
Thick air that pours adown on tree and sheaf, 
And rolls in liquid notes from leaf to leaf; 
While, far off from the swift stream's thwarted zest, 
Up looms, in free relief, the missing chest ! 

XXVII. 

" Those sacred lips renew the prophecies," 
Explain'd the Guide who mark'd my wondering 

eyes, 
" Of time when Horus shall avenge the death 
Of his lost sire who, newly dower'd of breath. 



A POEM. 141 

Shall rise in resurrection, rescuing earth 
Invoked to share his name and his new birth. 
Oft told that prophecy of one, a man 
More pure than Noah, saving more of clan 
From deadlier floods that Earth dares not to scan ; 
A fabled hero, from deep shades to spring ; 
A God incarnate, prophet, priest, or king ; 
The dream of Art that carved in human scope, 
From spotless stone the image of its hope ; 
What land or age ne'er heard of One to free 
From woes of Time and of Eternity? 
Not all a man ! Man can but pay self's due ! 
Yet, man in truth, with deeds for manhood, too ! " 

XXVIII. 

" If Heathen hope sought so much that was true. 
Tell me," I ask'd, " what profit, then, the Jew ? " 
" Much, every way," he said, " chief, oversight 
Of oracles, amid surrounding night. 
Sure types of Truth Reveal'd, and coming Light. 
Jews were the chosen few ; but, need Control 
To bless the chosen, slight the general whole ? 
Just are the Powers which human Fortunes wield. 
Whose accusations then, perchance, are seal'd 
Against both Consciousness and Right Reveal'd. 
Perchance, those Deeds, which lives depraved re- 
new 
Through human micans, selected first the Jew 
For a peculiar, not a single view 
Of truth, truth given for the general cause. 
But guarded by one nation's Life and Laws. 
And where does candid History that traces 



142 LEARNING: 

Amid all kinds of castes, and clans, and races, 

Find to conserve, a stabler element ! 

Of all the men against mutation bent. 

Spite pasha, pope, king, slaughter, hatred, shame, 

But one, the Jew, bides evermore the same. 

XXIX. 

" Alas ! a sect, blest by Omnipotence, 

By revelation wise, where ignorance. 

Like Esau, bargain'd, through a hungry mind, 

Their birthright, to be foremost of mankind, 

Exclusive then, as now, possess'd to call, — 

As alway pagan priests taught men to call, — 

The nation's Guardian, not the Lord of all, 

Only of Jew, forgetting prophecy 

Which join'd the Gentile name to each decree. 

They turn'd from Christ and Him whose power 

above 
Has not declared partiality of Love, 
Or hope excluded from a part of earth. 
The serpent crush'd by heel of human birth, 
A Spirit trampling Satan, — with this theme 
The whole long records of the prophets teem. 
Where is new truth ? Where not development 
Of sign and sacrifice to all men sent, 
Through their first parents ? Ah without excuse ! 
And criminal for adding each abuse. 
Stands man himself! Nor human teaching then 
Nor now, could ever hide from view I ken — 
Despite the gods before Him which men saw 
On pictur'd veils vain Fancy hies to draw — 
That which the Spirit sways, that higher law 



A POEM, 143 

Created with the heart If circumcised 
By faith in Him to whom they sacrificed 
Were saved, uncircumcised, tho' dim their pleas, 
With faith in Him might equal some of these ! 

XXX. 

" Think you to blame the law of Hebrew priest 
That none, save Jonah, was evangelist? 
Think you to prove all Words inspired confuse 
Which praise God-fearing men who were not Jews ? 
Paul, truthful ever, need not hint alone 
That Greece could worship God, tho' God un- 
known ? 
Nor Christ need stoop to use a logic shrewd 
To mitigate Samaritanic feud, 
Fortelling time when, nay, not here, nor there 
The Father should be served, but everywhere ? 
Oh ! could not He, with praises sung in Heaven 
By every nation, people, kindred given, 
Still keep ideals for all reverent hearts 
More chaste than forms which mock'd His nobler 

parts ? 
Woe World, if not ! all man-pruned history 
Grows, for slow shapings to idolatry ! 
It is not he of heathen name, alone. 
Who can bow down to gold and wood and stone ! 
The ancient priest, to lax tradition given. 
For power perverted simple rites of Heaven, 
And told of hero, demigod and god : 
To-day, with Bible, hidden while they laud, ' 
Which holds- the germs, I ween, of all things true, 
Lo ! not One, mediate 'tvvixt God and man, 



144 LEARNING: 

But saint, host, goddess, this Book never knew ! 
Perchance just Charity would kindlier scan 
A Socrates, Athenian gods between. 
Who praised a Spirit, for his soul supreme." 

XXXI. 

Pondering these thoughts, all dead to sight and 

sound, 
I walk'd abstracted, till I mark'd around 
Strange, quivering shadows covering the ground. 
Yes, the whole air itself seemed thick with shade ! 
I started then ! I peer'd through plain and glade ! 
On neither side was aught that could be seen \ 
No mount, nor wood to intercept the sheen ! 
At last, far, far above, I spied a light. 
Higher than clouds could be, the wildest sight 
To which I e'er was witness ! It came not 
From moon or sun ; one could not judge from what ! 
As lightning were if constant, so it glared ! 
Through each direction tore ! and crost ! and flared ! 

XXXII. 

Long space the strange scene lasted, till amain 
The moon shone from its edge. Far thence, the 

plain 
Upheaved its side to form a giant hill ; 
And from the top the great ash Yggdrasill, 
Beneath one limb of which I now discover 
That shaded path had pass'd, is shown to hover 
O'er all the north, here resting in the gloom 
That broods in west, there animate with bloom. 
First blush of Youthful Morn, till thin clouds hide 



A POEM. 145 

Dim limbs, like mountain woods, as high as wide ! 

A sprout 'side this, Aswatha of Hindoo, 

Gogard of Persia, Zampuh too 

Of Thibet, Kounboun with those mystic signs 

That made but little wise its wise divines ! 

Or tree — whence seeds of these were said to be — 

Which tempted Eden to disloyalty. 

XXXIII. 

We sought its roots : one in the west, where band 

The fiends of darkness in their fond Mistland ; 

And there the serpent lies, like lengthen'd night. 

And gnaws the bleeding bark in wallowing spite ; 

And one, far in the north where Frost-kings dwell, 

And, fiird for wit and wisdom, Mimir's well, — 

'Mid its clear depths the mirror'd pole-star fell : 

And one, along to east, hard by the morn 

And Urdar-fountain, where the patient Norn 

Perceives the present, future, and the past, 

Nor slights the small, nor shudders at the vast. 

Thence, o'er a dread, tempestuous stretch of dark. 

The rainbow-bifrost bends, where one can mark 

Heimdall the warden his close vigils keep. 

Ah ! marvelous his ear, e'en in his sleep, 

x^lS light as birds, he hears the grasses grow. 

And wool on sheep, ten thousand miles below ! 

Beyond, in grandeur, loom high Asgard homes 

Of gods ! and there, above those twelve bright thrones, 

Gladheim is recognized, with golden domes ! 

Whence far along Idavollr's placid fields, 

Vingolf, secure by hush'd retirement, yields 

For Frigga and her kind a wilderness 
10 



146 LEARNING: 

Of lawns, and lanes, and arbors for recess I 
Romantic nights of groves ! and days of flowers ! 
And lakes, and streams, and fairy fountain showers • 
A place, where luxury could wish no bliss ! 
Desire itself be drugg'd to drowsiness ! 

XXXIV. 

But while I gaze upon a scene thus mild, 
Storms gather in the heavens, whence clangors 

wild 
Provoke responses fierce ! As Lightning flies, 
Heimdall on Gulltopp to Valhalla hies. 
To find great Odin, and across the plain 
More gods pursue, with growing signs of pain ! 
Here Tyr uplifts, like some vast mountain side. 
His ponderous shield that shakes with wounded 

pride ! 
There Ullur draws a bow to test his art. 
And meteors through remotest heavens dart ! 
Now Braji leaves Iduna and wise life. 
To plan with Forseti a course for strife ; 
And Frey in haste, through breathless patience wan, 
Beats his big boar that saunters slowly on. 
Then Freyja with complaining team of gray, 
And Vidar, Njord and Vali join the fray; 
While through the north, like an Aurora, gleam 
The spears of Skadi's troops that nearer stream ! 
Far up, in Hlidskjalf, towering o'er the crowds, 
Like morning Sun enthroned above the clouds. 
Bright Odin stands : and, prompt to his command, 
Vibrations roll the sea, and rend the land ! 
Whence comes great Thor whose chariot sweeps 

the heaven 



A POEM. 147 

On flaming wheels of fire to fury driven ! 

Eclipsing all the rival hosts of light, 

As hurricanes trail past the stars of night ! 

XXXV. 

Then, from these ranks conceal'd, I glance below. 
To find the threatening cause ; wild waste of woe ! 
The seas, lash'd by the serpent, overflow 
All shores ! The giant ash, struck by the storm, 
Rent and uprooted, reels, a shatter'd form. 
And then igniting, like a comet grand. 
Burning, with its hot wake, full half the sky, 
Plunges far out the limits of the land. 
Where soon, in distant dark, the echoes die. 
Fire-genii from the deep flame forth with arms 
That tear the bifrost down ! While this alarms. 
Huge giants, 'mid upheaving mounds and cliffs. 
Press toward the gods ! Soon, where the foul fume 

lifts. 
Advance Thor's blazing lines ! Of no avail 
Is now, alas ! their strength ! For once, they fail ! 
For once, can force more dread than their's assault ! 
And, almost ere they charge, the columns halt ! 
Then back, through many a lengthening league they 

roll! 
Then, wheeling, bend their rivals like a scroll ! 
Borne back again, for one last charge they form. 
As terrible as every earthly storm 
Concentrated in one ! On ! on ! they bound ! 
They blend ! oh Soul ! my being breaks with sound ! 
Nor heaven, nor hell could stand so fierce a shock ! 
But all things ! — god or giant ! sky or rock ! 



148 LEARNING: 

Or star, or soil ! — 'mid bursting fires are hurl'd 
Like lava through 'the air! then all the world 
Is smoke, so dense I feel it when I press ! 
Then all is still ! and all is nothingness ! 

XXXVI. 

How long this gloom had place,- 1 cannot tell. 
Bewilder'd by the scene and shock, I fell 
In shuddering swoon. Waking, my fears dispel. 
My Guide is by me ; and, tho' hid from sight, 
I yet can hear his voice which calms me quite : 
" Watch now," says he, " the end of pagan fears. 
His good and evil part for endless years." 

XXXVII. 

Ere long, a slight commotion lures the view. 
Amid the shades, gleams here and there flash 

through 
Congealing orbs of gloom, whereat I gaze 
With roused attention, and do note that rays 
Of light commingle also ; and both flow 
Apart ; the light above ; the dark below ; 
As tho' some chemic power precipitates 
All by inherent force to destined fates. 
And there, I wis not how, one seem'd to heed 
With every moving gleam, or shade, some deed ; 
And, clinging to each deed, to read a name ! 
Soon, saw I forms, sometimes with boastful frame. 
That look'd, then shrunk below, and sometimes 

souls 
That stood, amazed to find ascending scrolls, 



A POEM, 149 

And none descending ; till, with mien of praise, 
They turn'd, with trembling feet, toward higher ways. 

XXXVIII. 

At last the long procession had gone by, 

And, far beyond me, just against the sky, 

I could discover regions, rear'd for Right, 

Beyond all beauty beautiful ! that sight 

No man could see, and deem one other bright ! 

All glare of earth, in one lens, were a blot 

Beside those shining pinnacles ! nay ! not 

In all the tales, by seer or sibyl given. 

One thing suggested like that scene in Heaven. 

And then, how could I, from a view so dear. 

Look down ? I could not. Such a Heaven near, 

Hades or Helheim could but prompt to fear. 

And " one," thought I, " grows much less pure in 

Time, 
From fear of ill than hope of the sublime." 

XXXIX. 

But yet, I doubted, till, half turn'd toward place 
Where souls, descending, went, lo ! I did face 
A mighty Light that brighten'd earth and sky, 
So bright, I thought, because this Light was nigh, 
All things that I had pass'd appear'd so clear 
In the dim night ; and, gazing forward here, 
It seem'd to light the way far as that heaven. 
'Twas on a little knoll, the splendor given 
From rays that fell and glanced, stronger before, 
Weaker behind, from off a cross ! " But more," 
My Guide said, " waits us, while we have this Light 
'Tis our work to advance from sight to sight." 



15© LEARNING: 

XL. 

Soon valleys deep and dark did hide the scene, 
Where all was gloom, save here and there some 

sheen 
From warring weapons. Then came place of dread : 
'Mid reeking shades, unnumber'd heroes dead ! 
Myriads of captives, into bondage led ! 
And gladiatorial thousands, kill'd to grace 
The civilization of its populace ! 
Anon, however, when the haze unrolls, 
Far more distinct, loom individuals. 
" Look ! " says my Guide : " Men find their king a 

man ! 
And he finds other claims than self s to scan ! 
Those restless fetters of the slave flash fire ! 
And they are loosed that all wish may aspire ! 
Lo ! churches, homes, and missions far extend ! 
And seas, where crowding ships of commerce wend, 
Sails set to work with winds from heaven above, 
And mingle language, custom, art and love ! 
But watch men here : " which done, I understood 
How few remark'd the universal good. 
In search of things minute, and hard to glean, 
Whence scowls of discontent scrimpt many a mien 
That peer'd through lens, with all the light he had 
In hope, I learn'd, to magnify the bad ! 

XLI. 

Among the throng was one who came to us. 
•^ These Times," said he, " these Times degener- 
ous 



A POEM. 151 

Bid one yield up to new Desires that lurch 

The blood-stain'd standards of One Holy Church. 

The Church is home of all that Love has taught, 

Or deed has gain'd, or Laws humane have sought, 

'Mid troubled floods, the only ark of heaven : 

Blest are those halls where parent vows are given. 

Where young susceptive lips are train'd to pray. 

Where life grows constant to the holy way. 

Blest are those simple rites, the quiet throng, 

The thrilling organ, and the mutual song. 

The prayers and pleadings, thoughts, decisions wise, 

The still walk home, the present Paradise ! 

Cursed the soul whose mad conceit would sate, 

Lessening the sovereignty of its estate. 

For twenty centuries this power has kept 

The older creeds for faith that fear'd and wept. 

And outlived Heathendom and Heresy " — 

" Yes," said my Guide, " and that Truth might be 

free. 
Made free its forms ! Cursed is age or youth 
That clings to such, when such can fetter Truth ! " 

XLII. 

" Alas ! " the first rejoin'd, " with truth your search 
You find no good, no profit in the Church } " 
" Much every way ! " was answer'd, " chiefly, aye. 
Just as the Jew was once, the Church to-day. 
Great in the Truth reveal'd ! What plea the Jew 
To slight those forms ordain'd by prophets true 
One hour before the greater Lamb reveal'd 
The law of sacrifice in type repeal'd ? 
What plea the Church to slight one Bible-fact 



152 LEARNING: 

That furthers faith in heart or good in act ? 
Or how, while mental errors can pollute 
A soul's ideals of the Absolute, 
Can 3-oung or old slight conference, and not stray 
Far from the right ? Well that for all a sway, — 
Though temple, altar, priesthood pass'd away, — 
The people's synagogue remain'd, to be 
The same power as of yore, with ministry 
Preserving 'mid the best life visible 
The truth once given, which no man can annul, 
Or change, or mystify ! that this remain 
Till some new dispensation shall make plain 
To soul of every individual 
Truth partial now, and perfect but in all. 
Ah ! in old time, — and, if no single man 
Have love or truth complete, wisely, I scan, — 
Faith sought its Sovereign's voice through Charity 
That asks report from each ! and so, may be. 
In matter of mere form. Faith should again. 
Like James, Paul, Peter, and those brethren. 
Waive word and whim to further deed and choice. — 
They serve the Church, who serve the Spirit's 
voice." 

XLIII. 

" Ah ! " sigh'd the stranger, then, right mournfully, 
" So many claim it, where can this voice be ? " 
" Nations, there are," my Guide said, " one alone 
Through kindred traits, and one upon the throne. 
By generous laws, most strong in central life, 
Spite of provincial tax, and local strife. — 
You deem the Church divided 1 Who are you. 



A POEM. 153 

So sure how Christ can best preserve in view 

Himself the Sovereign still of all things true ? 

Voice is, whence Faith may serve a Godless shrine, 

And worship human things, and not divine ; 

Not Truth reveal'd in Bible or in heart, 

But human systems added to a part. 

Priestly tradition, fact mixt up with lies, -j 

Interpretation, wordish compromise, \ 

Thought of the Spirit struggling out to view \ 

Too wide-aberrant from direction true \ 

Through fleshy medium ! Patience, Heart, a truce ! 

Here are but earthen vessels, with best use 

Too frail and scant to bear without abuse : 

All that the soul holds ! If Church Government ; 

Need forms for self, like a wise man content i 

To rule through ruling self, so let it sway. 

It has not standards absolute, for fray 

'Gainst duteous love for Him of peaceful way, ; 

Because corps-colors differ ! Loyal Hearts i 

May guard, and may advance through better arts ; 

Their Church, the Church of truth. Naught, I aver, ,■ 

Thrives less through force than truthful character. \ 

i 

XLIV. i 

" And naught can rear more reverent Piety 
Than Thought content to wait till it can see, 1 

Profaning not through explanations given J 

Those deeper symbols, clear alone to Heaven. ••| 

Systems there are, so part and join control, :| 

That who profess, profess to know the whole. ■ 

There is not left one notch for mystery ; 
And, without mystery, no faith can be ; 



154 LEARNING: 

Nor without faith, religion. Ah ! I trow, 

The moods most loving claim far less to know ; 

Remembering men walk by faith, not sight. 

And, therefore, charity alone is right : 

Or if they plead, remembering they who speak 

Through angel tongues, without this are but weak. 

Have you forgotten, 'twas a bigot claim 

Made pharisee and pope both lose their aim ; 

Kill'd Christ ; and, if it dared, might kill him now 

Who, with the self-same spirit, bid one bow 

Not, for the public eye, to priest or art. 

But to the God who gazes on the heart ? 

Truth ! Truth is Sovereign, not the speech I nor 

sect ! 
Who love God's Truth love God ! Yes ! I detect. 
Who most search this, kneel most to mystery ! 
First, faithful here, and then to what shall be ! 
If Heaven fail them — it sooner fails the worm. 
Faithless to Him who sends the Reason storm. 
Skulking from Light beneath an earthly form ! " 

XLV. 

" I fear such slight of form," the first replied. 

" Lax laws but cause lax life." " Ah," said my 

Guide ; 
" If Church, like Nation struggling to be wise, 
Relax restriction that true Worth may rise. 
And leave Desire all form Desire should prize. 
Or royal or republicanic, still 
It is not Anarchy best sways the Will ! 
Nay ! nay ! The flimsiest charity on earth, 
Thinner than bigot's ! — he would aim at worth — 



A POEM. 155 

Has mood that dare profane in plan or mirth 
The Power, by which souls, taught of God, are 

brought 
To reverence Right, ere strong to handle thought. 
If there be place where virtue is sustain'd; 
Where youth and ignorance seem safely train'd ; 
There meek Responsibility must tread. 
Conforming where, through forms, the Right is 

led! 
Thence Charity — Life's final victory, 
Because Health cannot love all equally — 
Yields not the free lust of the prostitute, 
But Love's expression, where Command is mute ; 
Where Bible vague, there it, lest Impious Strife 
Tear at the veil which God has hung to life ! 
Loyal to well tried form, this Grace, I see, 
At home, ward Thought too crude for liberty, 
Abroad, beneath much talk of diverse creed, 
Searching the heart, the source of all pure deed, 
Hoping that there, tho' words and ways may vie. 
Is possibility of unity ; 

That there, where is the real throne of Life, 
Dwells Wish to influence without a strife. 
Desire for truth whence Love may win consent 
As mild as He who in the garden bent, 
Nor needed sword, nor more expedient. 
Elsewise, behold fact for yourselves : " he said. \ 
Then gazed we from a place to which he led. 

XLVI. 

There was descried a brightest realm in view ; 
And many thronging thither, tho' but few 



156 LEARNING: 

In haste did seem to reach it. On the way 
They would pause much, with much to scan, and 

say 
Of things about. Still they would move apace ; 
And whither moved, I mark'd a spacious place. 
Yet crampt by buildings ; here by chapels small. 
There by cathedrals ; and, when nigh them, all 
Did diverse homage, cross self, or bow down. 
With holy glance at dress of black or brown ; 
Or, still erect, clasp hands of friends, or some. 
With folded hands, wait but for love to come. 

XLVII. 

We, too, drew nigh j soon forced, like most, I 

ween, — 
Though one could trace, too, those of humbler 

mien, — 
To watch the throngs most zealous to be seen. 
Ere long, was heard loud talk, where men admired. 
What God — so fear'd the soul — had not inspired. 
Past that, a fretful Zest coaxt peaceful boon 
From pitying Spirits sought through sigh and 

swoon. 
Further, 'mid crowds with cover'd heads or bare, 
Broad-brimm'd or narrow-brimm'd of hat 01: hair, 
Sped weary gasping sounds, found out as prayer 
From Providential print men bent to there. 
Then music lured. We had join'd with some choir, 
For praise was rife, but none did lead desire ; 
Only soft throats seem'd thankful for much hire ; 
Or fearing art, too chill by doggerel, 
Tones shut from draft of blowing organ's swell ; 



A POEM. 157 

Or fearing Nature, chords in place made drear 

That candles, or a smoky atmosphere. 

Or worth of well-stain'd glass make Heaven ooze 

near. 
Search tired. Still thought I, " Not alone for me, 
True Spirit Life has forms, like nature, free 
To grow from One Power, yet Infinitely ! " 

XLVIII. 

Just then, one sauntering by, cried, " Mark you 

there ! 
New priests ! like nurses, faithless to their care, 
Who, feeding sweets to Sense and Selfishness, 
Do coax wrong Passion on to Life's distress. 
These soothe the soul when thoughts of sin perplex 
Not by pure thoughts of God, lest conflict vex. 
But by dumbfounding tones of men and boys. 
By bows and beads, sole trace of household joys, 
With hints that faith may live in ears and eyes, 
To damn the ignorant and distract the wise ! " 

XLIX. 

" Let Facts speak ! " said my Guide ; while, 'mid 

the scene, 
Disputes did rise. Alas ! for Life serene ! 
Logic left Truth reveal'd, talk'd cant, and creeds, 
Worship devoid of love, and faith of deeds. 
Soon, humblest souls, I saw, who had come there 
In search of faith ; they shunn'd each place of 

prayer 
In still distaste, or doubt, or wild despair. • 
Near by gloom'd an abyss ! In swift retreat 



158 LEARNING: 

Full many crowded that way ! thence their feet 
Slipt, amid cries too late to save from loss ! — 
And down they fell where no light and no cross ! 



" Ah ! " sigh'd my Guide, " what wisdom does not 

know 
That Earth, not Heaven, has made religion so ? 
With life a mystery of mysteries. 
What comfort has the soul that thoughtful is, 
Save trust in God ? that source of life, unseen ? 
Life may join all things. Suns, with stilly mien. 
Draw to thin clouds thick water from the mire. 
To cause the thunder of the lightning's fire ! 
Troubles bring doubt ! and doubt philosophy ! 
And even Love finds schools in bigotry ! 
Why not in sects, if shape to benefit. 
Be less the truth itself, than made for it ? 
Once Tyrant Form taught Faith of liberty : — 
What shall the Present teach ? Oh, Hope ! set 

free 
That Charity which cannot prompt us long. 
Ere all must join in one prayer, and one song ! 

LI. 

" E'en now Truth comes to many a separate search. 
Who doubts that publican, whate'er his Church, 
May breathe through some dead body of a prayer 
A Spirit's sigh to fetch the answer there ? 
Who can deny to ways that freest roam 
The yearnings of a more methodic home ? 
Ah ! they who trust alone to Sovereign might, 
Find out there's much to do, to do the right ! 



A POEM. 159 

And they who boast the power of human will, 
Oft fail, to feel their need of Mercy still ! 

LII. 

" I deem, through ways diverse, like mighty wings 

Of some vast army. Truth, advancing, brings 

First one, and then the other toward the foe, 

With mingling stratagem, not best to show. 

Fickle to sight, mysterious to maintain 

The progress, slow but sure, of central gain. 

'Mid Theory to trust, in wise defense. 

Faith, tho' it mourn, may watch with confidence 

These partial victories of Partial Right. 

We learn ! — tho' all the Forms that loom in sight 

Be controverting Facts, for ever nigh. 

Just past this range of human Theory ! 

LIII. 

" With all religious life from oldest sign 

Deeds which have sprung from faith in deeds divine. 

Better not doubt the soul's truth, trust it rather. 

Tho' deist tell but fact of God the Father, 

Humanitarian speak alone of Son, 

Or pantheist of Spirit, truth is one ! 

And tho' the lips may limit and confine, 

Speech is a human thing ; the soul divine ! 

For it remains a Heaven, where Faith can rest, 

Tho' Thought seek systems better than the best ; 

Whence all that is not true shall cease to be ; 

Whence all that is have power for unity : 

Till found, we wait ; till some Columbus here 

Shall sail about this other, grander sphere. 

And prove at last how ways, while parting, near ! 



l6o LEARNING: A POEM. \ 

LIV. \ 

"Who shall he be to test for skeptic minds \ 

This gravitating law of love which binds ? \ 

Thought, Thought, that long since systematized the ; 

star, I 

'Tis time it moved to find out what we are ! | 

'Tis time this wandering World's Philosophy ! 

Return to its first love of Unity ! \ 

Not like the Greek, to water, air, or fire, j 

But mindful ever of the life ! — desire ! ■ 

With proof to spring and end in argument, 1 

From consciousness, for conscience reverent, , 

Its premises, like touch in sympathy ! \ 
Its logic, like to life in certainty! 

Hope must it speak for age ! and faith for youth ! ; 

A substance, with expression only truth ! ' 
For substance, with existence only love ! 

Oh if such thrive not here, it shall above, \ 

Where He, who most regards the Spirit's weal, i 

Bids Faith prevail, when Learning learns to kneel." \ 

LV. 1 

( 

He paused : then said — " Each reverential Star ] 

Draws back where nears the Sun. My home is far : ] 

Now, that our feet approach, once more, the dell i 

Where first we met, I must away : farewell ! " \ 

" Farewell ! " both said ; and, turning, he had gone. \ 

But I awaited still the coming dawn. \ 

And, pondering much the scenes we had pass'd by, j 
Resolved, ere high the sun or broad the sky, 

They should not lack a tale to testify. ■ 



SOL. ! 

LIMBS of the dying body ache with toil, '. 
But the undying mind when most unused : 

Nature abhors a vacuum, no less j 

Than her true children all things void in life. \ 

These need not wait like thoughts to implant the like, i 

But from much wish oft germinate what lacks, j 

And bear most fruit where grown 'mid most of dearth : j 

Had some such dearth inspired these thoughts on Love ? — ; 

Their scribe was one, now long a bachelor, j 

Proud most of proud indifference, seen ne'er . \ 

To turn and watch God's beauty in a face, , 

Or bend his eyelids to a neighboring tear . 
Where Pain pass'd by in wailing agony, 

Or e'en lose rein of smiles, tho' nature 'd shaken < 

I 

All jostlmg mcongruities m one : — ] 

So said the village gossip. — Ah, but Earth, j 

Serves he the least or most who guardeth best ■ 

The holy shrine of an Ideal Life, ; 

Nor draws the veil to one impertinence ? — , 

None solved this problem in the bachelor. 

But long it was before the electric smile 

That chased the glancing fire about the room, I 

What time the title came, had played away. ; 



II 



POEM FIFTH. 



LOVING. 



I. 



LIFE is a mystery, mystery bound ; 
Above, about, unrest profound ; 
Behind, a dream of the soul's dim home ; 
Before, a scheme for the mist and the foam. 
The winds drive on : we shudder, but steer : 
We tack for comfort ; but drift in fear : 
We cry for help ', but struggle alone ; 
Or gain no gain, that is all our own. 
We pray for Heaven : if Heaven be near. 
Some beacons of peace are glimmering here. 
Philosophy come, search far ! search wide ! 
Past Passion and Prejudice, Precept and Pride. 
With Heaven the haven, life cannot dispense 
With a sigh of the spirit, or sight of the sense. 

11. 

Where, where is good ? The world has claims : 
If claiming from each, then each has aims : 
And all the wide world is too vast for the plan 
That looms to the scope of any one man : 

We must divide ! 

For the ways are wide I 



1 64 LOVING: 

III. 

This hear I commanded, 

Through shadows withdrawn, 
'Mid Hght that expanded 
Creation's first dawn ! 
Off fly to their missions 
The systems and stars 
To stores of fruitions 

Infinity bars : 
And high heave the mountains: 
And broad stretch the plains : 
And up burst the fountains : 
And down fall the rains : 
And fragrant 

And beautiful, 

Herbage and flower : 
And vagrant 
And dutiful 

Manhood, a power ! 
Our glory 

It is 
Time's story 
Is this. 
The spirit of life 
Is a spirit of strife. 
The calmest and best of us is but a knight 
Whose rest is the weariness won in the fight: 

And the purpose of deed is the promise of life. 
The world whirls away : we spring to our gage : 
And bustle and jostle from childhood to age ! 



A POEM, 165 



IV. 

Lo ! the feeble wails 
Of an infant voice, 
Too young for the tales 
Of a wandering choice ! 
The weary eyes shrink from the points of the stars, 

From touch of the glance of the world that is. 
The ears are shaken by treads and jars ! 

The face looks fright to mysteries ! 
The small hands clutch for motes of the air; 

For plaits of the dress ; for folds of the bed ; 
But marvels move, and mingle, and tear, 

Redoubled by every shred ! 
The feet that balance the tottering brain 
Steal out the sly door ; and soak in soft rain ; 
Or stumble, with shrieks, for barbarian joys. 
The roar and the rush of terrible boys ! 
And wheels that grind omnipotent noise! 
Or call : " My mother ! the flowers are sweet ! 
My mother ! look out ! see the long, long street I 
And all the big houses ! Oh ! what do they do. 
Those strange, strange people that don't know 

you ? — 
That fat, funny thing ! it kicks and it cries ! — 

How can we be like one another ? 
Why don't it come here from the naughty flies. 

Come here then, and have a dear mother ? " 

V. 

The lone, little being, all wilder'd by needs. 

And thoughts that it can't speak, or nobody heeds, 



1 66 LOVING: 

Oh, where can it find an}^ respite or rest, 

But there, again, on that cherishing breast. 

Its hope, — the comfort, so many times given, 

Its faith, — that of saints in God and in Heaven ! 

VI. 

Yes, Heaven ! it too for the soul has aims ! 
If claiming from each, to each it proclaims : 
For love, one end 
Where all things blend : 

We may unite ! 

For the ways are bright ! 

VII. 

And lo ! when words have been spoken. 

The words of no other. 
The little life that had broken 

Is join'd to the mother ! 

VIII. 

Rest there, gentle Infant ! in all of thy years 
The world cannot furnish for haven from tears 

A calmer or constanter love. 
Take heart thence for service if parent be wise 
To yield to young longings, if Charity prize 

Weak nature as moulded above. 

But, ah ! if the unwise welcome thy fears 

W^ith spirit directing toward storms of the years, 

More bent to their wish than thy good. 
The first of all parents could no more undo 
Than those of the present whose self-seeking, too, 

Gives birth both to nature and mood ! 



A POEM. 167 

God guide the home-handling ! The frail is no 

fiend : 
Where powers still latent lurk, waiting till wean'd. 

God speed but the weaning of Love ! 
Love bide, howe'er guided ! The Will is no wreck 
With truth to confide, and age to protect. 

So wish may be aided above. 

IX. 

Oh Maidenhood ! learn to be mothers ! 

Lest the babe move away 
While the training it gains not from others 

Your doubtings delay. 
Instinctive to spiritual birth, 

And impulse of growth, 
'Twill leap from you o'er the earth. 

No matter how loath, 
To mingle its feeble means in the strife. 
Where the stoutest of us must battle for life. 

What culture we need in the mothers ! 

Of wisdom what wealth ! 
Those slender limbs mould as few others 

To outlines of health. 
And when the little eye dims 

To its trifles of quest, 
All quaint of its wonders and whims, 
She, she must give rest. 
And the petty desire of that tenderer tone 
To God is as great and as dear as her own. 

What work to be done by the mothers ! 
What stimulant given ! — 



1 68 LOVING: 

A love, to grow broad as all brothers, I 

And high as the Heaven ; ; 

The precepts of living explain'd i 

From cradle to school ; ' 

And thought to be planted and train'd | 

For the sage or the fool ; 

All the woe that our Earth could inherit from Eve, J 

Through woman again to lessen and leave. i 

X. li 



But swiftly, too swiftly hies time : 

Mark ! immature moods, grown strong, 
Outgrow all the nursery rhyme, 
So potent in earlier prime, 

Hush'd sadly, to feel, ere long, 
We must divide ! 
For the ways are wide ! 

XI. 

The school-house bell ! 
What a tale does it tell 
To the child who, first, with book and slate 
And bounding step for the pictured fate. 
Goes out from home where the dear eyes yearn, 
Out into the world, with a world to learn ! 
Alas ! for the soul that sought for change ! 
Those crowds before 
Fall back from the door. 
With a chill, wide space for the strange ; 
Until, to the gaze of quizzical boys, 
His hopeful face 



A POEM. 169 { 

Drops, shy apace ; ;; 

For he walks alone ; j 

And has hush'd the tone i 

Of all that was fond in joys. j 

Ah then, to his vision the earth grows dim, ■ 

More cheery without, more sad with him I j 

And the pride that shuns disparaging looks \ 

Unweariedly wrestles for worth in books. 

XII. j 

The school and its sport ! \ 

What a world they import ' j 

To the youth, when both appear old ! J 

When shrinking nerves become bold ! 1 
And, toughen'd past tilts, once seeming so stout, . 

Self wheels, in turn, to test all about ! \ 

Alas ! for the master that hoped him wise I i 

The questions are miss'd ;1 

At the head of the list, \ 
And a younger carries the prize. 
But if, from a hight of love and of zeal. 

The teacher inspire ; 

Through toils that tire, \ 

What nobler throne ' 

Can Honor own ? \ 

AVhat station, surer of weal ? 

There is life that moves with a brighter train : J 

There is power for winning more glitter of gain : 1 

Retired but God-like, naught more dear \ 

To others and self than the mission here. ' ! 



I70 LOVING: 

XIII. 

The school, with its cares ! 

What a Hfe there prepares 
For the man of right or of wrong ! 
For the great, perchance, then least of the throng, 
Whose compass, through all those whims of his, 
Was a conscience, stronger than mysteries ! 
The first in the start may fail of thQ race ; 

For far is the crown 

Where rank is renown. 
And many allure to the base. 
The hand that steadies the rudder from ill, 

And minds but duty 

And waits, for booty. 

Steers clear of offense, 

To grow conqueror thence : 
The test of life's pilot is will. 
For the course of earth is a course of toil ; 
The sooner we learn it, the less we recoil : 
Who rounds at the goal of the world with joy, 
Learn'd this in the little world, when a boy. 

XIV. 

The new has claims 

That the old has not : 
How much for games 
Is the home forgot ! 
There is sport for green, and river, and hall ; 
Kite and see-saw, fishing and ball ; 
Clubs for rhetoric, reading, and fun ; 
Books to study and slight and shun : 



A POEM, 171 

And fresh little thoughts spring, clinging to each, 
With a wonderful blooming of high-color'd speech \ 
And, quick and sensitive, bare of all sheath, 
A marvelous action of life beneath, 
More honest and valiant for half of the right 
Than your older ways, with little more light ; 
With feeling ! with feeling ! Ah ! that is the thing ! 
And over the world the Spirit will sing. 

Unite ! Unite ! 

For the ways are bright 



XV. \ 

\ 

The child-life dodges the stare . 1 

And test of spectacled age. ! 

It sighs for something to spare i 

The microscope of the sage. \ 

Sad, after the prize has been won ; ^ 

Sad, after the cheer of the throng ; 

Sad, after the parent's " well done ; " , 

Oh what is the thing that is wrong? 1 

He knows not till, flushing of face, \ 

With eyes that the heart shines through, \ 

Forsaking the shout and the chase, ] 

One follows his steps that withdrew. \ 
He knows not till feelings and aims, 

As timid, yet tired of control, \ 
Throw off all the form that restrains, 

, And touch their soul to his soul. 

Oh joy of the Spirits in Heaven ! i 

Is it this ? — No checking of shame, ; 

Naught, naught to be hid or forgiven, : 



172 LOVING: 

Constraining communion of aim ? 
And can all the twist of the creeds 

Entangle true faith in the days 
When nothing of selfishness pleads, 

And naught of utility sways ? — 
For the world and its ways have been given 

To speak to the sense of the soul ; 
And naught in the Bible or Heaven, 

But love feels a part of the whole ! 

XVI. 

Romance is a dream 
That age must esteem ; 
For none whom it never possest, 
Were ever the bravest or best ! 
The soul, moved most by the earth, 

Is sensitive first to a part. 
'Tis virtue would open to worth ; 

'Tis vice seeks earlier art. 
A pledge of honor begun. 

Temptations will fail 
While deeds of the confident shun 

What caution must veil. 

XVII. 

Yes ! Love is a sovereign, far too rare 

For Pelf to touch, or a Lie to dare ! 

A hallow'd sovereign where awed Delight 

Must ever worship in robes of white, , 

For ever reverent, kneel to see 

The shrine of its homage in mystery ! 

True Love has a life for the inmost heart. 



A POEM. 173 i 

Content in closeted hours to impart - \ 

Its whisper'd praises ! amid the throng, \ 

Tho' tones more mellow fill word and song, . ■; 

Enough in feeling, ■ 

Without revealing, 1 

One eye in walking, ^ 

One ear in talking, j 

One heart exultant at well earn'd pride : — ; 

To tattle of love were suicide ! 1 

Self sates in that service of sweetest pain, j 

Oppressing with too much worthiness ; 

In airy beauty, ideal of reign, j 

Who'd dare to breathe on a bubble of bliss ! ] 

One ruder grasp, ' 

It dodges the clasp. j 

The veil of that Holy of Holies is torn J 
By moods meant not, when temper is worn. 
The glory has flown 
One impious tone. 

The boy is right ; 
Who weeps in the night. 

■\ 

XVIII. \ 

Dear vows, they are meant when made, • 

Of Friendship, forever to last. ] 

But, where the gleam laid j 

Can the sun send shade, - \ 

When the bright, high noon is past. • 

But, even the night , j 

Has a holy light ; ■ 

And, whenever the day return again, \ 

There's a spot that the same 

i 



174 LOVING: 

Old sun will inflame ; 
For the soul there are joys, tho' the boys have 
grown men. 

XIX. 

How soon the tints of morn are away ! 
Come sounds of storm ! come skies, so gray ! 
To the sense above 
All may seem love : 
Our lower minds, to the right jejune, 
When the calls for work be;];in to tune. 
May hear not chords that the whole is giving, 
But only a part, and misjudge living. 
Whatever the truth, life must decide 
Not, not from the World that aye replied : 

Divide ! Divide ! 

For the ways are wide ! 

XX. 

There comes a time, none can postpone, 
When all must move into life alone ; 
Must choose for right ; or choose for wrong ; 
And the path they take is a path life-long. 
What tho' some milder memories know 
Nor hour, nor year, that turn'd them so ? 
What tho' some shrink from the woes before 
With a shock that is never forgotten more .'' 
All eyes had watch'd those paths of change, 
Till naught that came seem'd wholly strange : 
And tho' but little of virtue or vice 

In thought of earth or of skies, 
These whims to wishes and ways entice ; 

And steps must follow the eyes. 



A POEM. 175 \ 

Ah, so I know, 

With mercy for all, i 

No matter how small 

The thought of things to endure, i 

Our first cure of sin j 

Is not to begin, \ 

And to keep the memory pure. ] 

I 

XXI. 

There are many paths where good can guide: '; 

Whichever they take, men must divide. ] 

And not one slight of the world is forgot : ; 

Some snob will snuffle at every lot. '/ 

Clear bent for the best is quoted as bad : i 

Once John had a devil : once Christ was a sot : i 

Our toil — what of it ? — is lonely and sad. | 

But God made all, despite the throng ; 

Who rank His difference right and wrong. \ 
God rules : then, perchance, we are wiser for act 

Which learns from feeling as much as from fact, ^ 

E'en taught, through the injuring zeal of our race, '■ 

That gentleness too is a Christian grace ; , 

E'en taught with Him whose patience mild J 

Spake once — to point the man to the child. ' 

XXII. i 

How much we need that lesson, alas ! • 

We sally forth : we mix with the mass : i 

We meet the world : and it scoffs, to show ■ 
How little about the world we know. 
When only a boy. 
To know a little, that was our joy : 



176 LOVING: 

But, now, to the man 
Temptations begin as Adam's began. 
Like him we all would be gods ; and boast 
All knowledge from under to uppermost. 
The day we mourn a limit of call, 
We choose the means to conquer or fall \ 
By faith in the Infinite Spirit above 
To master ourself, to accept with love 

A partial dower, 
And that concentrate into a power ; 
Or choose the means, where a wide Pretence 
That weakens the fortress of sure defence 
Shall yield to attack when the first surprise 
With the boasted front of the hypocrite vies. 
Earth ! Earth ! win you that trial of woe, 
How suddenly old these young hearts grow ! — 
They cease to mature in truth, too proud 
To ask one boon of the vaunting crowd. 
They cease to mature in love that lends 
No more than frailty borrows of friends. 
They cease to mature in Godship, and trust 
The rank of the world that ranks by lust. 
Earth ! Earth away ! nor tempt to that mould ! 
There's a brand for death from the stamp you 

hold : 
And but one life of perpetual youth. 
And that from faith in the Spirit of Truth. 

XXIII. 

Ye too, vain souls ! with some truth to praise, 
When will ye learn 
How much ye earn 



A POEM. 177 

For wrong and the world by bigoted ways ? 
Tho' spirit of party may win 
By rating its opposite, " sin," 
To ponder and halt 
Is seldom all fault ; 
A natural smile. 
It never is guile ; 
But many a false array of Zeal 
Has frighten'd the honest Truth from weal : 
And many a blast of pious hate 
Is blown by the devil to rouse his mate. 
Oh how dare a Christian libel — 
What widen with light 
But never are trite — 
The right and wrong of the Bible ? 
Enlarge and lessen, as self inspires 
The fretful fancy of peevish desires ? — 
So guilt and innocence blend in the end : 
Such serve but what they nre willing to lend. 

XXIV. 

Let Spirit of Charity sway, 
With patience for virtue that vice may away ! 
Ye zealots, believe ! 
The rude can only train to deceive ; 
And the stench of a marsh, that breath of a lie, 
Before or behind there's a vice that is nigh. 
Praise God for all frankness ! To zest of the 

boy 
Leave innocent whim, tho' but vapory joy. 
But the mount cascade of the earlier stream, 
Too soon, too soon comes end of the dream : 
12 



178 LOVING: 

Away, away 

Float spatter and spray ; 
But, surely as rills roll on to the sea, 
The pure depths flow to Eternity ! 
Life's Love, that royal life of the soul. 
Who'll kill ? — No greater exists to control : 
But Patience, its offspring and equal, may out : 
To love, this is wisdom need wait for no doubt ! 

XXV. 

The thought is of action, but ardor to till, 
Or weaker or stronger. 
Is not supreme longer, 
When real life matches ideals of will. 
For life is love's center, a myth without this. 
And, sooner or later, we know of the bliss : 
The goblet of Time, it fills to the brim : 
Live high ! is the cry, till the dizzy eyes swim ! 
Live high ! and the glass, it jingles and clashes ! 
We drink, till we reel, the hot fire as it flashes ! 
The world, it whirls around and around — 
Oh soul, is the center of being, then, found .'' 
So bright, ne'er the world ! they are stars that sur- 
round ; 
'Tis Heaven ! high Heaven ! hark ! hark ! the 
spheres sound : 

Unite ! Unite ! 

For the ways are bright I 

XXVI. 

Oh Search that was longest. Oh World that was wide. 
Oh Heart that was toss'd on a compassless tide. 



A POEM. 179 

Waves, wild of commotion, ye hush into rest, 
For there, beyond, looms the land of the blest ! 

Oh Eyes that had strain'd for the form of delight, 
Oh Ears that had listen'd the long, long night, 
Oh Hands that claspt vaguely what dropt from you 

dead, 
By guile of the phantom no more be misled. 

'Tis Truth that here welcomes. Oh Beauty, thy 

beams 
Have burn'd through all mists that obscured thee in 

dreams ! 
Ne'er blush of a cheek so bloom'd to confess ; 
Ne'er Purity spotless, so pledged in the dress. 

Come hither and conquer, oh Spirit of Love ! 
Oh Captive-Heart flutter ! thy life hies above ! — 
Sweet death, to be dying from pierce of an eye ! 
To fall, and be lifted to live in the sky ! 

On, dearest of Seraphs ! they lie who would trace 
Aught dearer in holier, happier race. 
The reverent spirit yields to the sight — 
It yieldeth to God where love is the might. 

xxvn. 

In the day transfiguring earth and skies. 

How blest is the light of a confidence sure 
What Power makes all life be and endure ! 

It comes when, filling with love, we rise 
Regenerate by the Spirit of Truth : 

It comes with assent that glorifies 

A soul possessing Ideal of youth. 



l8o LOVING: 

Ne'er sang the birds so thrillingly sweet ! 
And ne'er so clear the rills at the feet ! 

The leaves are all flowers ! 

And crystal all showers ! 
Through the clouds come green hills, growingly 

grand, 
Like the nearing shores of a Spirit-land ! 
And those red stars burn into the soul ! 
We melt far out in a calm control ! 
We faint in the lap of the fragrant air! 
So dear ! so dear ! we die to all care. 
Ay, she that has won in that moment of bliss, 
'Holds all Immortality worth not this ! 
Nay, nay, we have gain'd the life above — 
Who'd dare to dfeny it to our first love ? — 
We have, we have Eternity! 
But bright suns rise, to set, may be. 
How blest are they who never find out 
How earthly love, like its home, shifts about ! 

XXVIII. 

What is Hell ? Ah mark it ! there's life on earth 
Bleedingly torn from all it is worth : 
Things are rent that nature allied : 
Wish and all of its ways divide. 
Hope there is, wretchedness ! love there is, death ! 
Bodies for feeling, yet feeling all breath ! 
Faith that is fickle ! and freak that stays ! 
Scorchings forever ! yet chills from the blaze ! 
Music, yet misery ! cheering, yet groan ! 
Cherish'd one hated ! and crowded, yet lone ! 
White wings, dipt, that spatter in mud ! 
Stars to look at, and dirt for a cud! 



A POEM. l8l 

XXIX. 

What wisdom is this, the elders presage, 
That frankness of feeUng must wait upon age ? 
Perhaps it were better, in life's growing prime, 
To live to our nature than cater for crime. 
Love, rarest of passions, with burnings untold, 
It melteth the being, to turn out the gold : 
One sound of its kindling, vice hears as a knell, 
And sinks from that Heaven, as far as to Hell. 
Perhaps it were manlier, nobler, for most 
To live, while they live, than delay for the ghost : 
While all that is in them is yearning to band, 
Give heart for acceptance, as well as a hand. 
Accursed, all civilized, cautious alloy 
That weakens true virtue, or lessens true joy. 
That dams into calmness the flow of the heart, 
To winter the icy sparkle of art. 

XXX. 

One seeks not to rhyme 

An excuse for a crime 
Who speaks but a truth that is true in all time, 

And says that the art 

Of breaking the heart 
Is not confined to one sex, in the start. 

Who are they that dance 

With early romance, 
And beacon all Nature to love, with a glance ? 

They are girls who decoy 

The more modest boy 
To truth but a flash, for faith but a toy. 



l82 LOVING: 

Who are they that start 

Their hand for the heart, 
Then fling down the mitten, to see how we smart ? 

They are maids who propose 

AVe love as do those 
Who have flirted their limited lot to a close. 

Who are they enjoin 

The beauty of coin, 
And shrug, if we doubt of the soul they purloin ? 

They are matrons who trade 

The life of the maid, 
And mention a match as a bargain, well paid. 

Who are they that sigh 

As we question the why : 
*' There's nothing like learning, you'll learn by 
and by " ? 

They are women who teach 

Young honor a speech. 
To ruin all others that comtj in its reach. 

XXXI. 

Oh soul that found living so sacredly sweet, 
Can things that we worship collapse into cheat ? 
High Spirit of Faithfulness, what ! hast thou died ? 
Can Love kneel prostrate, and yet be denied 1 
Fond Promise that lured to the marvels above. 
Nor hinted that Hatred was tracking on Love, 
Can manhood be led up so far, but to fall 1 
And must farewell be the end of it all t 



A POEM. 183 

Go Memory, vanish ! Come Reason to Rage. 
There's nothing that smarts, but health may as- 
suage. 
Away with a madness that hasted to be : 
What Ridicule follows let Influence flee ! 
To push and to paddle the rill of a rhyme. 
Scant waters beneath, and a scanty sublime, — 
Out, out of such folly ! here now to the land ! 
Farewell ! Oh Wisdom ! give vigor to stand ! 

Farewell — ah, to feel it ! — farewell to the dream ! 

There's something far better in life, than to seem ; 

Far better, with glory to win or to miss, 

Than languidly lulling the doll of a bliss ! 

Let love unrequited live not, to control : 

'Tis the fancy of feeling, the foam of the 

soul ! — 
Yet Life, how much dearer ! could reason and 

right 
Still prosper with pleasure ! Farewell to the light ! — 

Farewell to delusion ! Let truth but appeal ! 
Hark, rises a din ! See, flashes a steel I — 
What bodes in the distance "^ — Now gird on with 

might ! — 
It may be to conquer ! — it must be to fight ! — 
Mount ! — In with the spurs ! — The trumpet ! — 

Away ! 
The crowning of bliss come after the fray ! — 
Charge up ! and charge onward ! — The field, it is 

wide — 



184 LOVING: 

Farewell to the phantom ! — Here's life ! — It had 
lied! 
Divide ! Divide ! 
For the ways are wide ! 

XXXII. 

Oh why do we sever, despoiling the heart ? 
With groans for pleasure, and cheers for smart, 
We buckle in feeling ; we buckle on pain : 
We tighten the nerves, that tingle and sprain : 
We wrench at the heart's frail strings, until 
We've snapt the tenderest cords, with our skill : 
And Life's sweet music ? there's no more tune ! 
W^e dig in the earth, down, down for a boon. 
Where never comes sun ; where never comes moon 
Nay ! that's not half of the woe, not half ! 
We lie to our nature : we twit, and we laugh : 

We dare 

To jeer of the friendship gone: 

We dare, yet there 
Are Christ and John. 

XXXIII. 

There are times when the meanest man bows down 
To hide in the dirt his dress of the clown. 
But the meanest man, he bows too late : 
His eyes are red, and his lips inflate. 
Don't buy, tho' cheap, that ruffian : 
The sweet is the seasoning not the man. 
Whatever the maids have left in the bowl 
Is handled and hack'd to the hash of a soul. 



A POEM. 185 

As well trust apples of Sodom ! — with gnashes. 

Who tastes that dainty bites in the ashes. 

As well pursue a Will-o'-Wisp's flare ! — 

That fire of devotion is all in the air. 

As well touch a carcass ! — those pulsings avow'd 

Are worms that are crawling round under a shroud. 

No beauty of soul is there ; gross is the beast : 

The source, not the right, of repentance has ceast. 

The Spirit Ideal, that would woo above, 

Drive off ! and have hell ! where nothing to love ! 

XXXIV. 

Some more, some less, with little to love, 
All, all of us leave the sky to the dove. 
We delve away, in the depth of our trade ; 
And all are dusty before well paid. 
Some like the dust ; some mourn its need ; 
And some gaze cheerly toward end of the deed. 
The most sink, prostitutes hugging to all, 
Good bad or indifferent, beauty or scall, 

Till each love Christ would have kept 

Dies out of the man, unwept ; 
Love's natural hate of the deeds unkind. 

It pleads from the face no blush : 

There bides but the counterfeit flush. 
The paint that allures to the lust left behind. 

XXXV. 

What power can save 
When Forms would enslave ? 
Shall one, when the foes' ranks wide enroll, 
Forget his soul ? 



1 86 LOVING: 

With every flag of a high cause furl'd, 
Yield up the fight ? — a man of the world 
Who struggled once, was conquer'd thence, 
And squats like a beggar that smirks for pence, 

Who dandles his palms 

And storms and calms, 
For a paltry pittance or pride to please 
With a sneer for those, and a smile for these ? 

XXXVI. 

Nay, nay, oh Faith ! Good giveth a goal 
Where will itself wills life for the soul. 
Him, buried below, breath blesses above, 
And duty on earth aye journeys toward love. 
As long as a muscle or mind can live, 
The heart of life has something to give. 
Let languid feeling push for the high : 
The love, still living, will love what is nigh. 
Mayhap, in the time when help seems far. 
The soul first turns where the best gains are : 
The poor and the sick and the loveless foe 
First learn from the humbled what God would 
show. 

XXXVII. • 

Let duty be done, and worth will attend. 

Tho' fade each form once called a friend. 

Believe, believe Infinity 

But thus divides Earth's ministry. 

We hear its voice : we know its needs : 

We journey toward our separate deeds : 

And oh ! the further from the world 



A POEM. 187 i 

Life's destined banners be unfurl'd, : 

We grow, the higher lifts our call, • 

The less to one, the more to all, i 

Until, like Christ on the mountain brow, \ 

To God alone we trust our vow. \ 

Ay ! there be those so far do soar \ 

That a single man 

Is lost to the scan, ' 
And the voice of the confident heard no more : 

Years ! years ! when the loveliest face 1 

Seems only a framing wherein to trace • 

A part of an interest felt in the race. \ 

XXXVIII. ; 

The celibate priest ; 

Had something to laud, 
If nature had ceast. 

Or man were a God. ! 

All things created have need of a sun : \ 

There is no manhood complete but in one. ' 
Watch well ! where the highway of life is kept, 

However dim by the storms beswept, i 

The strength of the world is spent in a blast ; ; 

The strength of the Spirit appears at the last: 1 

We may unite! \ 
For the ways are bright! 

i 

XXXIX. { 



A-faint in the gloom so rife, 

Light ! light breaks through ! Is it life 

I've seen a face that came, a creation, 



1 88 LOVING: 

A sun, to cluster a constellation 

Of beautiful, bright ideas ! 
And over the will that slept. 
And dream 'd of the guard it kept. 
There stole the sweetest power to possess, 
So like to the Beauty of Holiness, 

Awaking, one had no fears ! 
Was it something new or something old ? 
How could it be new, and faith so bold? 
How could it be old, and hope not cold ? 
Or, could it be both ? — so dull to the good. 
The world waits long to learn what it should : 
There is memory far more real than sight ; 
And state immortal where age is might. 

XL. 

The years, how slightly they change true life ! 
We broke for a look, and a whisper of strife : 
We said to the seasons : " Come, fold ye between ! " 
The winters were chill ; but the past, it was green. 

We called all our passion and pride into might : 
We sought for another ; none sated the sight : 
We push'd through the city : we stroll'd through 

the park : 
One spoke in the silence : one moved in the dark. 

We dream'd we could mould our being to stone : 
Our heart became cold ; and our mien became 

one. 
God made us for life : a statue we stood : 
The surface wa^ smooth ; and the world called us 

good. 



A POEM. 189 

Oh Marble ! what meaneth ? These Hmbs, they 

convulse ! 
This heart beateth strong ! warm floweth the pulse ! 
The dull ears, they listen ! The glaring eyes see ! — 
Oh Love ! so much life, life givest thou me ! 

XLI. 

High, holy Forgiveness, at threshold of bliss 
From God in the next world, from mortal in this ! 
One touch of thy wand, foes, girt to molest. 
Drop kneeling, to rise up, knights of the blest. 
A current of nature that will can resist 
Is check'd, to swell stronger, the longer it's miss'd ; 
Once fulness of confidence flow'd but in part. 
With faith and confession now floods all the heart. 

XLII. 

Life looks on a face whence beameth bright 
A constant halo of warm delight, 

Whose smiles attract 

To genial act 
All love that springs in the sunny sight. 

Her mien, with every grace refined, 
In welcoming, bends to all things kind. 

With something true 

And duteous too. 
Not lightly sway'd, in the inner mind. 

She moves in a sphere not, wholly obscure. 
With that which is not wholly mature, 



I90 LOVING. 



But meek to go 



Where friend or foe 
May whisper width of the wise or pure. 

Her aim is not for prize of a strife, 
To sit by a plume, but if as a wife, 

For her own soul, 

Not for eves of Earth's whole, 
Content with gains of the unseen life. 

To me like blue that is over the sea 
Far up, yet with similarity, 

A world of love 

She bends above, 
As broad as life is, and yet how free ! 

Thence life, bestirr'd, finds fond hopes rise 
Like mists, more beauteous when in skies. 

And like nights here 

When stars appear. 
E'en gloom grows dear that awaits those eyes. 

Ay ! thence, as at dawn that awakes a dream, 
Hope dims, forestall'd by truth supreme 

That flashes light 

To make all bright. 
And be, what self can only seem. 

Would God that heaven could ever abide, 
Not undisturb'd if storms outvied, 

But steadfast still 

To the clearer will 
At rest deep under the wave and tide ! 



A FOEM. 191 

XLIII. 

Back ! back, Presumption ! dare not view 
A vision that can but pale the true. 
This life hath plenty of wrong for woe : 
It need not add one other, I trow : 
Nor tempt from the light so bright a soul. 
As well a fiend might woo control, 

And drag another to dwell 
In its Hell ! — 

Yet oh! a fiend too 

Might aspire for the true ! 
And if that other were sweet as this, 
All fires of Hell were quench'd by a kiss ! 

XLIV. 

In the spheres of God, where Love controls. 
Shade hies to the surface ; Hell to far poles ; 
Light bides in the center ; Heaven in souls. 
'Tis surface-life deems far what's near ; 
It found no Heaven, if Heaven were here. 
This world that weds for elf or pelf. 

Oh it knows not 

What souls have got 
That live like God, and, loving, love self. 
This world that wisely looks to exalt 
Full many another, less spotted of fault, 

It may be right. 

But judges by sight, 
Our own is sugar, the others' are salt ! 



192 LOVING. 

XLV. 

Hold, soul ! if a freak 

But sate as one seek. 

God shelter the dream. 

Where depth of a stream 

Were hid by its gleam, 

Agasp on the banks. 

The bliss of one's thanks, 
The eager bound of one's leap caused the 

shock 
To kill, as he dived, and dash'd on a rock ! 

XLVI. 

What eye can trace 

What is under a face ? 

If a calm demean 

Be of hope serene. 
From spirit ascended, through faithfulness, 
To dwell in a region above distress ; 

Or only a stare 

From the corpse of care, 
From self that is dead but to selfishness .'' 
The genialest glance — Oh trust it never ! — 
May flare from a passion to scorch forever : 

No glory of sky 

Where a dawn is nigh ; 
But flame volcanic that ruins the rest, 

That roars beneath and the heaven afl"ronts, 
Till one dream of imps that are yelling to pest ! 
Or wake to the lulls of a soulless dunce ! 



A POEM. 193 



XLVII. '^ 

What seer can pry what cares unfold, 1 

With children to train, 

And patience to strain, ■ 

And after the whim much worth to be doled ? ' 

Trust not to feeling, Imperfect of Birth, j 

Fidelity only has worth on the earth. j 

True love's the ideal \ 
Of Faith, that loves most to kneel. 

XLVIII. ; 

Those serpents who visit \ 

And whisper and hiss it, i 

The faithless advice I 

Of the first Paradise, ! 

" Rebellion to station \ 

Makes Lords of Creation " — i 

Oh, who bear the damaging ] 

Of their sly managing.? — \ 

Ah, how many lone hearts to grieve ! I 

Vain souls that roam j 

From duties of home, i 

Ye guides unto loving, God's last forms given " 

At the gateways of Earth, the heralds of 

Heaven, ; 

There's risk where the world's rough cares are •, 

driven. 1 
With feeling all ruler, 

The reason is slave : 
With feeling no ruler. 

The female's a knave. • 

13 I 

\ 
1 



194 LOVING: 

This white of the ermine may prove, forsooth, 
A shroud for the delicate beauty of Truth ! 
Worth lost to get weakness that wins with a lie, 
The soul shut in that smothered Love die, 
Weigh well the cheat 
Who look to deceit : 
The devil 's our rival, ye daughters of Eve : 
We may divide ! 
For the ways are wide ! 

XLIX. 

Alas Will's boasted freedom ! we may ! 
And have but woe for the murmuring sway! 
What soul can hope that a less good here 
Shall thrive, with the greatest of all not dear? 
The first deed of man with power of selection 
Broke loose from lines 
Of life, all perfection. 
His earliest cry : " Who giveth me laws ? 
Who leadeth by signs ? 

Who telleth no cause ? 
The brave hath deserts : 
Let the tree be the quest : 

There is that in the food ♦ 

Much more than a test. 
The will that asserts 
Its right of command, 

And calls up the good 
And the evil, shall stand 
The equal of God ! Have I not desires ? 
Hail fullness of all their rest requires ! " 



A POEM. 195 

L. 

Alas the finite who aim'd at all sight, 
The equal of God is the Infinite! 

And praise to Creator 

In wisdom the greater ! 

E'en out of a fall 

Comes the saving of all ; 
Comes knowledge of good, as well as of bad ; 
With knowledge of evil from feeling the sad, 
The knowledge of faith which alone can unite 
Our limit of light to the Infinite. 

LI. 

Unite ! can that be an end, wrought out 

E'en through divisions that make Love doubt ? — 

The width of truths men sunder to own, 

Still leading there toward One on the Throne ? 

Life reads in the past where wish went wrong, 

Yes ! — even of Love that parted the strong, 

Thus to be triumphant ! — of Love that was able 

To hinder Earth's error, with flood and with Babel ; 

Of Power, preserving the pure in the ark, 

The Father of Faith through the Patriarch, 

That led by the meek, that ruled by the poet, 

Where Life moved on, tho' no one might know it. 

Divided by Egypt, Philistine, and Mede, 

That, disciplined, it might learn to succeed ! 

Moved on ! till nigh to a mystery dim. 

Where Thought bow'd awed that a Maker be. 
Love crost the threshold ; and, knowing of Him, 

Dared e'en to dream of a Trinity ! — 



196 LOVING: ^ < 

No heathen gods of different tale, 

But heathen truth where is rent the veil, j 

A holy Communion ; 

Of Heavenly Union, 
Of Life in self, and of Life without. 

Of Rest, reposing in Rest about, "\ 
Of Thought, all knowing and being known, 
Perfect of Love that lives not alone. 
Of Deeds, whichever their source may be, 

All one by an Infinite Sympathy ! — i 
One Spirit ruling on Throne above, 

One God, but all of the Godhead, Love ! j 

LII. J 

And He who rules — One God, perchance, i 

Has plann'd one law for every advance ; ; 
If floods for manhood, baptisms for man, 

Aye parting where sin is, and joining where love. 

Each shift but a symbol Faith reads, as it can, j 

For gfrowth, not like to the tree forced, above. 1 

For him so ruled, if earth be a school, I 

May be the life disciplined follows the rule : ; 
Where draw the curtains of pure delight. 

The corridors stretch toward Infinite sight : j 

Love nears through chambers of revelation \ 

The blissful halls of the world's creation : ] 

She beckons to children of Earth, her own \ 

Who wonder and wait, what Faith hath shown \ ■ 

And the gates flash afar from the Father's Throne \ 

Wherever one gleam of the good before, j 

Mayhap, an angel opens the door! j 

Wherever true love, there's faith in the gloom, 1 



A POEM. 197 

A lamp to wait for the World's Bridegroom ! 
A lamp to wait, 
Tho' the hours be late 
And clear near dawn loom the forms of hate, 
For the Judgment Day, the last to divide, 
Where the child of Heaven is the fruit of the Bride I 
Of love, to unite ! 
With the ways all' bright I 

LIII. 

Hail, Spirit of Union, hail, to control ! 

The Bible and Heaven 

These symbols have given : — 
One love that joins here body and soul, 
And one that joins all Earth to the Whole. 

Who crieth, " Divide '' ? — 

Love ! love it is wide ! 
Light leads Life on ! The haven is near ! 
Some beacons of peace are glimmering here ! 
What tho' there be peril, let Faith be devout; 
With risk near Eden, there's ruin without ! — 

Fy! Here is Philosophy, balancing life. 
Like the knight of a novel — gone for a wife ! 



LA. 

NOW came the poem of the elder scribe, 
The village sage, well-nigh the village saint. 
Wide seem'd his views, tho' ne'er a voyager ; — 
For one may see this life and stay at home : 
It does not always make men wise, I deem, 
That they have napt in Nice, or roam'd 'round Rome ; 
While many eyes that wander earn but lies. 
There's truth in fancy, never found in fact — 
As wide too was renown'd his generous worth. 
Tho' gray beards could recall a boistrous youth. 
And many a scrape and scare from daring deeds. 
Who'd now point out, to blame, one earlier blot ? 
In the completed pictures of this life 
Failings may give fill'd outlines rare relief, 
A nature weak, in that it was more weak. 
By so much more redound to praise of him 
Who from poor talents wrought out rich results. 
So when the genial man sat at his hearth 
To read this work, his wisdom and his worth 
First hush'd the throng, and then his clear, full voice, 
The wholesome utterance of a well-kept heart ! 
It spell'd like chiming of the old church bells, 
So sweet in youth ! 'spite blow and frost, still sweet ! 



POEM SIXTH. 



SERVING. 

I. 

HOW sweetly sounds, on barren plain, the 
rain 
That wakes the slumbering seed that springs to 
hear ! 
How bright are steadfast suns that gild the grain 
Ere Autumn crowns with gold the patient Year ! 
But crystal tones, from infant hearts pure-welling, 
More sweetly rouse the soul's unfolding worth : 
And smiles from her whose face lights up the 
dwelling 
More brightly hallow homes for fruit of Heaven on 
Earth. 

II. 

So sweet are dawns that bring domestic bliss : 

So bright, the long day's toil that such instills : 
Rare rest new cares, to melt before a kiss. 

As slight and brief as snows by southern rills. 
And sky-lit, vestal fires at evening glowing: 

All blest the soul to whom one glance allow'd ! 
Too curst the lone one never, never knowing 
That inspiration sent from realms that know no 
cloud ! 



202 SERVING: 

III. 

What tho' earth's fickle months, with drought 
and frost, 
Bring most disaster, and bring all distress ; 
The humblest pair can look past harvests lost, 

Still patient till the fijture shall redress. 
Those youthful forms that grow with careful train- 
ing 
Bloom beautiful by buds of promised store : 
And if this season blast their best attaining. 
Oh ! has not early prime long years of hope before ! 

IV. 

Thus storms that stalk where man, in vain, con- 
tends. 
And crush half ripen'd grain to sudden dross. 
Too bitter dross for all more daint}^ friends, 

Lose power to ruin, and half power to cross. 
Let false away, if home's true hearts bide nearest, — 

Privations come, that but deprive of ease ; 
No loss of other things can seem severest! 
Nor any effort tire, achieving still for these ! 

V. 

That one immortal power which ne'er can die, 
There are no floods on earth Love cannot 
brave. 

Too near of nature to the upper sky 
To tamely sink beneath a worldly wave. 

And I've known those with all things her ex- 



pression 



A POEM. 203 

Their wealth, but something won for her to 
own, 
Their poverty, new claim for her confession : — 
Ah where could doubtful Fate bespeak so sure a 
throne ! 

VI. 

A man, whose life had toil'd till nigh its noon 
Through mists which lined each ledge with 
phantom fears. 
Had found so clear a path, so bright a boon. 
High hung the hours through ten full, happy 
years : 
And wide developt joys where Love was wield- 
ing. 
Two young hearts came : and with them double 
care ; 
But generous Nature yields afresh to yielding : 
The germs that grow to fill feed too on broader 
air. 

VII. 

A man, he was — all towns reveal the kind, — 
Earth names eccentric, since Earth finds them 
few ; 
As wise Chinese, with common whisper, mind 

The hang of heathen heads, bereaved of cue. 
Of fai- extremes his nature seem'd the linking : 

Of strong impulses, will outvying all ; 
Of reckless fancy, logical of thinking ; 
Abstract of reason, still intensely practical. 



204 SE JIVING: 

VIII. 

His moods, so wide, in widest fields would roam, 

Wherever love could please, or good exalt ; 
While Ignorance smiled to feel herself at home, 
And Wisdom would not know he deal'd a fault. 
Determined still, he turn'd a fickle bearing, 

Right sensitive, to truth in deed or whim ; 
A mirror, just and full to each comparing. 
Some men there were, to read through what they 
thought of him. 

IX. 

Nor here surmise he play'd a gossip's part, 

Or, for a new friend, sacrificed an old. 
When one pierced aught to love, one pierced his 
heart ; 
His face grew rigid, for his blood grew cold. 
But honor helps us not, if forms have revel'd : 
These moods diverse were doubted and re- 
viled 
As scheming, whereat honest hate was level'd ; 
As aimless, where he'd win, with slight t'offend a 
child. 



His youth, so old, it sometimes seem'd pretence 
His age was blamed for immaturity. 

His foes, astonish 'd by his confidence : 
His friends were puzzled by his mystery. 

With self diverse, for truth to self ambitious, 



A POEM. 205 

His greatest virtue proved his greatest fault : 
Ay, men, adepts in vice, had deem'd him vicious. 
Because, where Caution call'd, Conceit might fail to 
halt. 

XI. 

Alas, 'mid scenes to discipline device. 

Who live, too proud to ply it or too pure, 
Will find, at last, they've roused, from lips pre- 
cise. 
Death-scented chidings of the doom'd ill-doer 
Who 's caught that pest of vice, to sap emotion, 

Who deems a sight of naked heart is sin 
And all love haunted by a carnal notion — 
So keeps the Christ-like out, to keep the devil in. 

XII. 

Besides, broad views, alone, have their offence : 
What tho' on life's long voyage loom stars and 
shoals ? — 
Both theories for thought, and things for sense .'* 
One law guides most who steer, where'er their 
goals : 
Who pleads of each to all, may make all wiser, 

But grows no pilot, with his fickle rule ! 
Nay, ere he know it, 'spite his best adviser. 
This man may hear an insult, and that man a foo] ! 

XIII. 

Love, when it works a philosophic mind, 

Not long accepts all lack of synnDathy ; 
To seek it kindly, failing still to find, 



2o6 SERVING: 

Makes honest dullness seem hostility. 
This man had heart and head so close united, 
All thought was passion, and all passion 
thought : 
Emotion ran to logic, once excited ; 
And, where the feelings burn'd, Imagination wrought. 

XIV. 

It wrought his woe : and this his reason knew : 

He knew his own ideals made him sad : 
His soul preferr'd to weep and urge the true, 
Than laugh and speak contentment to the 
bad. 
Where did such Romance pace the stage of 
action. 
One glance from ample perfectness to doff.'' 
The part all spurn'd, she shunn'd by not a frac- 
tion. 
And then, the pit, which came for pleasure, staid to 
scoff. 

XV. 

That modest plant, the schools call sensitive. 
Lacks beauty not when Nature's means are 
sent : 
Its tendrils clasp a harsher guise to give. 

To greet alone some hostile element. 
So oft a shrinking mien assumes a boldness 

That masks true life beneath a shield for pain : 
But when has pass'd the shade that caused the 
coldness 
Lo ! those who watch it well find beauty there 
again ! 



A POEM. 207 

XVI. 

Thus did the world's hostility, in end, 

See him withdraw ; nor cared he then to live. 
But Life that overrules, it rules to blend. 

Who shrink aback meet there the sensitive. 
Where honor 's scarce and each man craves his 
brother's, 
With such alone are welcome those who feel : 
We men are selfish ; and work not for others : 
Who've sought it for themselves, have charity to 
deal. 

XVII. 

Away with shallow precept that extols 

Experience spliced by wedding supplements : 
No hearts are join'd, save when, tho' wide the 
poles. 
Life's center 's one, for each circumference ! 
Away with myths, nor quote that silly story 

Of gifts diverse which heirs of jarr'd tastes hold : 
For men, much more than man, allure from glory : 
Much in the stuff, there's much more in an even 
mould. 

XVIII. 

He learn'd this truth : that earthly Love can 
wend 
Two ways alone in which 'tis ne'er beguil'd — 
Moved forward, pace to pace with like train'd 
friend : 
Moved backward, meeting there each untrain'd 
child. 



2o8 SERVING: 

And when a home had brought both these to- 
gether, 
What rare reward it was for all his care ! 
It came like summer after wintry weather : 
Love touch'd the heart, long dead, for resurrection 
there. 

XIX. 

But now, in hfe too bright without a cloud, 
Had the glazed face of Sickness dodged his 
path ; 
And seized his pulse, first roused to 'scape the 
shroud, 
Then chill'd, by icy touch, to numbness rath. 
Friends came ; and urged, all other aims displac- 
ing, 
To court the favors of a foreign shore ; — 
Assured that those far climes, through winds 
more bracing, 
Could kindle, once again, the healthful heat of 
yore. 

XX. 

Both heart and mind demurr'd : he deem'd his 
part, 
At home, a priest of love which lives in form, 
True form t'uphold by aught in him of art 

Born in the sunshine or matured in storm. 
Again, he thought : " I'll speak, from distant na- 
tions, 
A broader charity from broader glance ; 
We earthly heralds cannot choose relations, 
But, riding on to good, must bridle circumstance." 



A POEM. 209 

XXI. 
Then pass'd the parting, with its vague regret, 

And dreamlike deeds, and doubtfulness of fact. 
The wharf — his wife — his son — his infant 
pet — 
The long blue hills, slow-failing him who 
track'd ; 
And dizzy days ; and nights of phantom-fighting ; 
And crowded meals which clogg'd an appe- 
tite ; 
And that round waste, without one sail exciting 
Monotony too dumb for sentiment or sight. 

XXII. 

Yet wrong I thee! oh wide and wondrous 
Strand ! 
And those swift wheels which o'er thy sur- 
face flee. 
I wrong those skies which bend on either hand. 

Lost in the compass of Immensity ! 
I wrong that mighty heart whose ceaseless 
grieving 
Wakes wild devotion of the sailor's lays ! 
That bosom where Omnipotence is breathing ! 
And, whisper'd from far isles, the heathen's awe- 
struck praise! 

XXIII. 

Tremendous Monarch of all Elements, 

Whose broad arms clasp the Heavens, their 
only peer ! 

14 



2IO SERVING: 

What age of wrong, what wail of Turbulence 
First hail'd thee tyrant of our trembling 
sphere ? 
Who bade those Winds upspring, to rouse thy 
laughter ? 
Those Lightnings sport, to cheer thy fretful 
reign ? 
That fierce applause to hurry thundering after? 
Those Waves to howl and mock above uncon- 
scious slain ? 

XXIV. j 

Say Power of dread, is it thy rage, or joy, j 

Which hurls confusion o'er the Pilot's tract, \ 

And tosses man's proud work, so slight a toy, 

And swamps in spray for each resistive act? | 
Oh God! protect the soul, those dark mists ■ 
under, 
Where naught can pierce the veil of instant 
doom, \ 

Till hidden rock or ice, with madden'd wonder, 
Roar at the rising foam, its ghost-track ! and its j 
tomb ! 

1 

XXV. • 

No human skill saves there I Men work ! Men. \ 

weep ! I 
Why shouldst thou heed, thou Omnipresent 

Sea? : 
Those stormful Clouds, whose blasts about them 

sweep, j 

Owe substance, breath, existence, all to thee ! -. 



A POEM. 211 

They gain their grandeur, when thy waves are 
hoary ; 
And when, worn out, their wayward might 
would rest. 
Rest shall not come, till thou, with pardoning 
glory, 
Shalt gather all again on thy resentless breast ! 

XXVI. 

Nor, when those skies and shores the brightest 
shine. 
Can they outrival thee ! oh, Lordly Deep ! 
Within, and yet not of, that life of thine. 

Behold ! more beauteous, all in image sleep ! 
Ay, Peace, more grandly than when strife is 
raging 
To vex a banishment from wrath sublime. 
Crowns thee victorious, every strength containing, 
Thou God in miniature ! Eternity in Time ! 

XXVII. 

Vain thoughts like these ! vain aught which 
spake content ! 
Time slowly crawl'd along that endless floor. 
Until, one sunny morn, the low lines bent 

On purple downs of Ireland's fertile shore — 
That Paradise, beyond the ocean dreary 

Where Neptune sways his lonely dome of 
gray : 
Where hung a dream, about the eyelids weary. 
More lovely than the hills which circle Queens- 
town Bay? 



212 SERVING: 

XXVIII. 

Or where could fairy tilt more eager arm 

Than Spenser spied on those fair banks of 
Lee? 
Or how could Beauty spare one other charm 
Where blithe Kate Kearney sail'd her bonny 
sea? 
Jsle of delight, and were those gifts expended 

Of Nature, ere she reach'd the manhood here ? 
Or was this human filth and misery blended 
Lest envy make more jilted, each more jealous 
sphere ? 

XXIX. 

Oh Ireland, Ireland, thou'rt no name divine, 

Until those earth-bound peasantry are free ; 
Till Heaven itself shall break those bonds of 
thine 
And give thee learning ! love ! and liberty ! 
Still trim the lamps, tho' voice of hoping falters. 
The dawn shall come, with all that light insures. 
Which long in lands, beside less favor'd altars. 
Has nurtured Christian growth from hearts less 
warm than yours ! 

XXX. 

Past leaden Dublin, and her golden bay. 
The traveler mused on lowly banks of Ern, 

And, when the Sabbath came, he paused to pray 
Where Walker's breath bade palest ashes burn. 

Then 'mid the hights that watch'd the Giant's 
ardor, 



A POEM. 213 

He traced void walls of coliseums grand ; 
And heard, o'er sinking ships of Spain's armada, 
His wave-swept organ roar an Irish reprimand ! 

XXXI. 

But who, that sought historic mounts and lakes, 
'Trail'd not fair Scotia's image o'er the wave 
Toward moles and meads where scarce a sun- 
beam breaks 
But bounds the ground to star a patriot's 
grave. 
Rare realm of highest deeds ! and deepest think- 
ing ! 
Honor's delight ! and Reason's jubilee ! 
Where thrives a purer life, pure 'spite the drink- 
ing.? 
Or where does Virtue yearn, it does not yearn for 
thee ? 

XXXII. 

For thee ! and praises evermore a fame 

Where even Vice precedence gives to Worth : 
Tho' northern clime may somewhat chill the 
flame, 
Where Christian zeal illumes the lingering 
Earth. 
For this 'twould fain forgive false virtue's sur- 
face — 
Awed by advance of hallow'd Sabbath noons, 
Ye beggars, plead no tones but Sunday's ser- 
vice ! 
Ye organ-monkeys dance no irreligious tunes ! 



214 SERVING: 

XXXIII. 

Who, here, essay to note a stranger's thought ? — 
What springs to crowd each path, where'er he 
turns ? 
While every course with impulse fresh is fraught, 
Now hale for Wallace! and now hush'd for 
Burns ! 
He delved through Bannockburn : he mounted 
Stirling, 
Full half to Heaven by the view it brought ! 
Then, all alone, 'mid cliif-wall'd Trosachs whirl- 
ing, 
Was first the stag that shunn'd, and then the James 
who sought. 

xxxiy. 

Nor did he slight those tones of tender tale, 
Which murmur where the rills of Yarrow 
gleam ; 
Nor dared one Echo rude alarm the vale. 

Disturbing haunt of Romance and of Dream. 
Yet not a limb, nor leaf, above it leaning. 

Nor by its side reclined one sheltering rock 
But found a voice with deep poetic meaning, 
From Newark's birchen bowers to bare St. Mary's 
Loch. 

XXXV. 

Then Cumberland allured, where wilds on high 
Most cultured fruit of earth and mind an- 
nounce : 



A POEM. 215 

And bright, susceptive Lakes, admiring, vie 

To swell the charms of else unrival'd Mounts. 
And sudden brooks whose mists are myths of 
story 
Dash down each ledge ! and dodge through 
every brake ! 
From peaks, like broken fragments flung from 
glory, 
Which trail a train of clouds, too like them to 
forsa.ke ! 

XXXVI. 

And then — vain strove contracted lines of 
rhyme. 
Describing free orb'd luxury of mind 
Our England stirs in souls, of every clime, 

Who honor aught that elevates mankind ; 
Where grand Cathedrals live ! with praises breath- 
ing 
Through limbs that yield all graceful wish to 
thought ! 
Where classic castles live ! with ivy wreathing — 
Gardens of freshest art about the ruin sought ! 

XXXVII. 

Vain, too, should Memory seek, through words, 
surcease. 
Depicting welcome from an English home. 
Where no crude Care intrudes on cultured Ease, 

And Service struggles to exalt her own. 
God bless thee long, thou proud, but Mother- 
Nation ! 



2i6 SERVING: 

Most motherly in pride, thy sons renew ! 
God bless that loyal life to each relation, 
Bred with the British blood, from lord to tenant 
through ! 

XXXVIII. 

Thy western child, it grows with noblest boast 

The freedom, first imbibed upon thy knee, 
The Anglo-Saxon virtue of thy coast, 

Long stay of Christian life and charity. 
And while advancing power fulfills its mission, 
Best culturing all where English words have 
scope. 
Accurst the land, accurst the politician. 
Would lift one country's flag to lower the whole 
world's hope ! 

XXXIX. 

Still slept the snappish gales that fright her 
waves. 
The while the traveler sought the Belgic 
shore. 
And spires, full-chiming hours each neighbor 
craves — 
To shun surprise ? — a long half hour before. 
Well wrought her fields ; well her great limner's 
beauty, 
Tho' skeptics miss that central charm, the 
heart, — 
A wise man's pleasure and a weak man's duty, — 
The good which fickle Nature yields to constant 
Art. 



A POEM. 217 

XL. 

Art too he found, a cautious, candid school. 
As nicely trimm'd as dikes that guard her 
homes. 
Where crouching Holland grasps her watery 
tool, 
And tempts to tread-mill each fresh Wind that 
roams. 
So thrift a race, what have they ever slighted ? 

In Kirk, behold ! what restful industry ! 
When crowded aisle and organ, loud united, 
Praise Him who stretch'd their plains, through long 
monotony ! 

XLI. 

Not martial pomp, nor splendid choir, we ask, 
Whose end is homage vain to human skill ; 
No glory to the praise of labor'd task ; 

But what, for Nature's mood, speaks out the 
will : — 
Where sense is strong, strong music through the 
senses 
From souls that love, because they live the 
strain, 
Now slow from doubt, or mourning for offenses. 
Anon borne upward wing'd to hope beyond all 
pain. 

XLII. 

So grand to hear, where God has school'd by 

strife. 



2i8 SERVING: 

All powerful chorals from the wills all strong. 
Mild moods come too. Our wanderer came to 
life 
Surrounded aye by memories of song 
With Heaven-like charm to soothe the child, 
e'en weaning, 
Whose clappers call a roll of classic airs. — 
Ah, sweetness sates all earth, when only glean- 
ing 
What Germany, replete with growing bounty, spares ! 

XI.III. 

Nor mourn that bounty, ye who'd point to time 
Seduced from good by Sunday's beer and ball : 
Or mourn each fruit of Eden's matchless prime 

For one that rival'd Adam, God and all. 
Blest land, indeed, where Conscience bides with 
Learning, 
Considerate still to guard each hour of rest 
For man, while man goes wrong and needs, for 
turning, 
Calm hours for view of things Earth's cares can- 
not suggest : 

XLIV. 

But well before one blame to bear self-blame : 
Where Force of good would hold a stricter 
rein. 
Force may need such from greater need to tame 
More blunt and blurting vice of wilder brain. 
Where spray is white, waves too are fiercely 
rolling : 



A POEM. 219 

Where Good alert, 111 too, with many a shoal : 
Judge not by storm-mood of the mien controlling 
The life far less disturb'd where moves a milder 
soul. 

XLV. 

Or judge and be judged ! They've sketch'd : — 
" Play-house, bar, 
Most numerous, crowded, vile and villainous ; 
Best stock'd from life where somehow train'd to 
jar, 
Vain girls are rear'd like queens, to reign by 
fuss ; 
Whence, void of household joy, man, sot or ser- 
vant. 
From morn to midnight kept from culture's 
part, 
Must store, oft steal more gold, that Lies more 
fervent 
Greet surface-prink that gilds a home without a 
heart." 

XLVT. 

No life seems wholly faultless : where not so. 
Let states like, souls complete all lack through 
love. 
Thus may they lure to Right the Wrong below ; 
Thus, humbly, heed the truth, if Worth above. 
That land has kings on earth : — this honors, 
needing. 
Still Sabbaths to remind of King above. 



220 SERVING: 

Armies has that : — with this much woe is breed- 
ing 
Where Free Will rules, if Will have never learn'd 
of love. 

XLVII. 

Where'er Republic, thence demands the Earth 

More good to stay a wiser life in store ; 
For if the New World be not new in worth. 
The tyrant tracks the circle round once 
more. — 
Teach Church, of reverent speech where no 
crown trains it ! 
Teach Sunday-school, of love 'mid party strife ! 
Lest Tyrant- Will, untaught what best restrains it. 
Revolt from public peace, or huff the social life. 

XLVIII. 

Yet, guarding self s, frown not, if Justice find 
All German moods, like music, aim'd for 
heart ! 
From France some come back Frenchy ; but each 
mind. 
More pure of mother-tongue, more selfs of 
art, 
Comes from this Sister-Saxon, soul-deep nation ! 
Ah, if we blame, we'll blame, from loving 
homes 
That wait with anxious mien — like revelation, 
Words from an oracle ! — what speak her mighty 
Tomes ! 



A POEM, 221 

XLIX. 

In all she lack, oh may her new, proud day- 
Disclose what facts reveal to heedful thought, 
For ends not king-made but what men essay, 
For practice, more than hope, long crush'd, has 
wrought ; 
Call impious Science back, to know her sta- 
tion ! 
Give sway to Faith ! — for there was day, I read, 
When not content with whims to guide the na- 
tion, 
From love of perfect truth, these led to perfect 
deed ! 

L. 

Across the plains where press'd the Goth and 
Hun, 
In centuries of progress left in rear, 
The pilgrim now was brought with monk and nun. 
To worship art, — and was art only dear ? — 
Nay, even then, sweet child-like words had 
mutter'd, 
'Spite leading-strings held tight by dotard- 
hand. 
One manly truth, 'mid espionage, still utter'd : — 
By dower of soul and hand, the right to speech 
and land. 

LI. 

Who made the world, He made the world for 
man 



222 SERVING: 

Where waits he Heaven, with love his only 
light : 
Its heirs, they cannot bow to caste or clan, 

Be led by aught that does not lead to right. 
With such denied, farewell to king or nation : 
The patriot's home is where his duties be ! 
For priest or prince, love only is salvation ! 
No rule of heart by hearts without humanity ! 

LII. 

Away with artifice in Church or State, 

Each false result of aristocracy 
With good, the say of prelate not of mate. 

With bad, an accident or poverty ; 
Religion, where the gowning gives the rating, 

Not reverence instinct for life of truth ; 
Morals, where hopeless virtue yields for sating 
The void desires of undomestic soldier-youth. 

LIII. 

And Hope could prophesy ! but spies, far 
north. 
Foe to free work or worship in her son, 
Another cloud ! looms it, another Goth 

To out-Rome Rome? to crush all love has 
won ? — 
Hail Russia, free ! but keep despotic code, ah ! 

Hail Europe join'd, indignant then, to fell ! 
And we — better the smallest rock in Rhoda 
Than all the western world, if won through league 
with Hell! 



A POEM. 223 

LIV. 

But thou, proud Latin leader, Valor's own, 

Lover — roue of Freedom, France, stand true ! 
Who has not bow'd, bedazzled at thy throne ? — 

Who has not fear'd to hear the Syren too ? 
Top-wave of fickle-flooding civilization, 

Thy white crests signal winds that work the 
sea: 
Politics, fashion, vice, war, desolation, 
Whate'er, where'er the source, each speeds to 
shape with thee. 

LV. 

And some forms aid earth much ! — Would each 
crude home 
Grew fill'd with courtesy, the Frenchman's 
pride : 
Would ours so fill'd; that get, o'er ocean foam. 
But modes and words by apes and parrots 
tried ; 
While little Soul veils thy soul's true confession 
O'er foreign traits, to make deceit seem right ; 
And little Learning, needing long expression. 
Slights mood- nerved English point, of poem-pictur- 
ing might. 

LVI. 

Forgive one, France, if aught of Fashion's tale 

Wake prejudice against thy life unknown- 
More moods hast thou than strumpet-signals trail ; 
More thought than words thrust, thoughtless, 
'mid our own. 



224 SERVING: 

True life hast thou : speak for that Hfe addition ! 

Shrewd strife to shape needs most a soul-just 

throne, 

Lest logic light like lightning! — smite its mission ! 

And love with thee seem brightest, since it flare 

alone ! 

LVII. 

Thus mused, and wrote the traveler, moving on, 
Words tired to trace through what extent of 
scene. 
He mark'd, far south, so beautiful ! so wan ! 
Fair Spain, nor then forgot what Spain had 
been. 
He heard white Alps preach pearly truths of 
Heaven : 
Watch'd dizzy cliffs of sober vineyard-glee : 
If wisdom came, less weight, perchance, whence 
given, — 
Thought's no aristocrat to need a pedigree ! 

LVIII. 

Yet well to know, where'er his feet may roam, 

America, each son still honors thee. 
Where Sect and Sex have found an equal home, 

And Worth ranks first amid nobility ; 
Where swell the aims of Freedom's humble 
mothers 
While young minds move toward all that minds 
deserve ; 
Where pure the life while Hope, no despot 
smothers. 
Asks but one pride of birth, and God alone to 
serve ! 



A POEM. 225 

LIX. 

Long, long may tongues diverse and ocean-foam 

Divide the new from modes beyond the sea. 
Enough Lies lured where Truth first form'd a 
home 
Already threaten that which made it free. 
Where Nature reigns, let nature seem perfection, 

For truth in bearing, and for love in heart ! 
For Learning's self a new world ! resurrection ! 
And Heavenlier guise for soul of this earth's wasted 
Art! 

LX. 

The wanderer's kin were far, — and Heaven too ! 

And oft came letters from the zealous home, 
Where Fact and Fancy strove, like marriage true, 

Reflecting bliss, to double every tome. 
Right regular they came, till something lured 
him 
Far Asiatic wildness to explore. 
Where mails came not ; but ready Hope assured 
him 
More numerous joys would wait more numerous 
joys in store. 

LXI. 

Poor vapory life ! the Hope died but a Hope. 
The long months pass'd, his eager eyes de- 
mand 
His letters. 'Mazed they fill so slight a scope 
He opens, reads — but scarce to understand — 
15 



2 26 . SERVING: 

Swift tale of stout disease! — how all things 
languish ! — 
His two fond children — sicken'd ? — dying ? — 
dead ! — 
Then words but blots, steept in a mother's 
anguish ; 
And then, no more for months! — and God still 
overhead I 

LXII. 

But last, was note from one, a friend of old \ 

On friendship old it dwelt — weak artifice — 
Then urged return : " the cause, time would un- 
fold"— ^5. 
Return ? return ? — and needed he advice ? 
He did return ! — And Night ! thy self sank fouling 
'Neath mightier darkness there, from shore to 
shore ! 
And Sea ! — in vain obtruded splash and howling ! 
Woe kept him back from home, alas a home no more. 

LXIII. 

At length the waves were cross'd : he reach'd 
the land. 
But oh ! how different each object here. 
Than when, a year before, that little band 

Waved brave farewells upon the fading pier. 
No face was nigh to speak a kindly greeting : 
He sought his home • — all vacant, cold and 
still : 
Wildly the door re-echo'd to his beating: 
He seem'd a wicked thing : and slunk back from 
the sill. 



A POEM. 227 

LXIV. 

His house, it stood beside those lordly Banks 

That rise to greet the Hudson's silvery train, 
While Art, admiring, aids, with generous thanks, 
To wreathe still prouder charms for hill and 
plain. 
Below him swept that rare and royal river! 

So white with sails ! so restful and so wide ! 
First of creation, foremost to deliver 
To human Skill the power which thwarts the sky- 
born Tide ! 

LXV. 

It chanced, there was a spot where oft of yore, 
'Neath one broad elm far traced that region 
through. 
He loved to linger, with his babes before. 

And muse on life and all the work to do. 
Thither his footsteps turn'd — Too short the 
story : 
Behold that place of joy! — The same tree 
waves 
Above two little mounds where frost lies hoary. 
And him, a lonely man who weeps at silent graves ! 

LXVI. 

And there, in helpless misery did he stay. 
Till twilight came ; till midnight, chill and dim; 

And Anguish burst its aching bounds to pray — 
The only thing which life had left for him I 

Ay, ay, the only reservoir for sorrow: 
The only outlet for too deep despair : 



2 28 SERVING: 

The only place where hope can find a morrow-: — 
Oh Father God ! oh Christ ! oh Spirit, everywhere ! 

LXVII. 

And was he answer'd ? — He remember'd, now, 
That friend ; and what was promised to un- 
fold:— 
•^' Where was his wife ? " — he ask'd with pain- 
braced brow. 
The tale seem'd strange, but very kindly 
told : — 
" A man had come, nigh proved in near relation 

With party foes of his, a well known knave. 
Winning her confidence through much persuasion, 
Then luring on a speculation wild to brave. 

LXVIII. 

•** Soon, swiftly losing all her husband's gain 

That had been left with her, she went her way, 
Searching something to save, — a search in vain : 
While gone, her children died ; return'd, friends 
say 
She first seem'd wild, and then had somewhere 
wander'd." — 
Such was the tale : it roused one thought : — 
he must 
Tor her seek all the earth, nor deem aught 
squander'd 
While, all omnipotent, Faith left one hope to trust. 

LXIX. 

So, on the shifting stage of life appears 

A man, still wedded, but to what is sought, 



A POEM, 229 

Still young, if one must reckon life by years, 
But old through care which speeds the pace 
of thought. 
Now scans he city crowds, beside him throng- 
ing ; 
Now heeds the curious gaze, from village door ; 
Now dread asylum haunts, with fearful longing ; 
Now hunts for cautious phrase, to advertise the 
lore. 

LXX. 

Some whom he met, with words regardful, spoke : 

" Yes, here or there was one, perchance the 

same." 

'Twas very kind to cheer the strength of Hope ; 

But ah ! they never helpt him toward his aim. 

But he — no hill so high, it found him tiring ; 

No plain so long, the end did not seem nigh. 
While glimpsed a single ray to his Inquiring, 
The further sank the light, the further would he 

ply- 

LXXI. 

From east, far west he went ; from north, far 
south. 
Led there, at last, he scarcely cared for what : 
A change was good : and word, from stranger's 
mouth. 
Might fill the ebbing of a pang forgot. 
What courteous homes he met, his mood to 
lighten ! 
What patriarchal pride of noble clan! 



230 SERVING: 

But truth dawns on tmth ; older right must 
righten : 
These too, they lack'd one virtue, to make virtue 
man. 



LXXII. 

Few can they love who still love manhood best : 

He left for fields, fresh boons of Paradise, 
That, slumbering by the Mississippi, rest 

With verdure spurning culture of device. 
He left, to be alone, — no wold, no forest, 
Disturbing one long language of repose, 
With sateless Beauty's self content as florist. 
And only skies where weird mirage and mountain 
grows. 

LXXIII. 

Then — in the east there lie sky-drifted mounts : 
Their cloud-coursed paths through fresh-found 
mystery. 
Dim, dreamy glens, and flash'd surprise of founts 

Had train'd, in youth, his poet-fantasy. 
He loved them, as a child may love his mother, 

A simple child who cannot tell you why, 
Yet something feels, he feels not for another, 
Something too near to life, to need philosophy. 

LXXIV. 

Thither, from search too vain, his wanderings 

stray ; 
And there, in lengthen'd weariness, abide ; 
While Strength, which stagger'd first, accepts its 

lay; 



A POEM. 231 

And Zeal plods on, tho' Zest has stept aside. 
The chains our life-experience is wearing 

Goad on to effort, and, through effort, save. 
And now, if aught unusual mark'd his bearing, 
A lack of it was rest which none but victors brave. 

LXXV. 

And strong work triumph'd : each new month 
would show 
A milder movement and a firmer eye ; 
Not as of one who had forgotten woe 
But learn'd to greet expected Agony. 
No more sharp pain he felt, so much as sorrow ; 
Not some, but all things underneath the shade ; 
A loss from life which life could never borrow. 
But when the lost seem'd God's the gall of grief 
was stay'd. 

LXXVI. 

One joy too still remain'd. In lonesome time 

Far would he journey, now the soul his end. 
Beneath all shape of circumstance and crime, 

To find how Love can ever find a friend. — 
Who have not faults .? who are not faults regretting "i 
Who wish not much .? who ever reach their aim 1 
Who form not plans for all mankind's abetting? 
And where in all the deep things are not moods 
the same.-* 

LXXVII. 

How then can false misanthropy mislead 

Our younger souls when first they learn of 
woe? 



232 SERVING: 

Love is not perfect, oh not so indeed, 

Or Heaven would fail to lure from things be- 
low ! 
But deem no single vice your own strength tasking 

For test, from help and sympathy apart ; 
The foe may shift attack to different masking, 
But all success must pierce the self-same human 
heart ! 

LXXVIII. 

Go search the world ; and, wheresoe'er you 
stray. 
The wonder is, you find no wonder more. ' 
Behold ! the same brisk boys, at wilesome play : 
The same proud mothers, pensive by the door : 
The same strong men, bow'd down by weight of 
troubles : 
The same sad dames, with tired eyes turn'd 
above : 
The same small graves where drop life's bursted 
bubbles, 
Dark most from fear of ill, bright most from wish 
for love. 

LXXIX. 

Nor deem, by this cold Unconcern appeals 
To check each special aim of general dust. 

'Tis Wisdom's self, for wiser end, reveals 

The heart, and value too, of heart to trust : — 

Tho' separate souls, for separate thought, must 
sever, 
A wondrous oneness in the things most dear ; 



A POEM. 233 

Substantial want which feels for feeling ever ; 
Beneath all selfish sham, a sympathy sincere. 

LXXX. 

For woe, what is it ? — all Complaint that pleads 
Where startled Pity bends in sad surprise? 

And bliss, is what ? — all gorgeousness of deeds 
That win wide homage from admiring eyes ? 

Nay ! — woe, it is that lonely life's bereaving 
Where threaten'd Hope is nursed in secrecy; 

And bliss, it is the glory, or the grieving 
Shared with another ! — Happiness is harmony ! 

LXXXI. 

'A foe, we meet upon a desert plain 

With mutual harmony of wish to part. 
Is welcomer than friend who speaks disdain 

To tender utterance of a trusting heart ! 
Believe you, Christ the Lord had little suffered. 
If Woes had made those limbs their only 
mark — 
Ah no ! 'twas Love, which felt love undiscover'd ! 
The Father's face withdrawn ! and dying in the dark ! 

LXXXII. 

, I dream, when shades which bind the Vision 
here 
Lift in exuberance from a Heavenly view, 
All simple shall the grandest truths appear, 

In outlines which, before, all mortals knew. 
Let heathen trace aback, through mystic story, 
To lineal loins of Superhuman birth ; 



234 SERVING: 

The grandest good the Christian knows for glory, 
Is simply to inherit, at the last, an earth. 

LXXXIII. 

An earth, made perfect ! — where converting Love 

Should share th' inheritance of all with each ! 

There generous Bliss, now forced to realms above, 

Would shun no longer individual reach ! 
For aye, till life be borne to more that blesses, 
Till nature new, perchance, receive new aim, 
Who learns to live the true man, he possesses 
All things which God who made man like Himself 
can claim. 

LXXXIV. 

Toward love, do all who move with right ad- 
vance 
Through knowledge of the man whom they re- 
store. 
The Trade, whose Ignorance crept with lifted 
lance. 
Has learn'd to feed, unmail'd, each hungry 
shore. 
The Spirit, searching life's full orb of beauty, 

Finds unity 'mid multiformity ; — 
One soul unseen, the source of varied duty ; 
With faith in souls unseen ; then love to faith's de- 
gree. 

LXXXV. 

Think not I have forgotten him we trace, 
In views which might appear beyond, above. 



A POEM. 235 

No truth in sky or earth escapes embrace 

Of aught whose first and last regard is love. 
At home in all God's household, naught can sunder 

From God's Infinity, a love-bound soul : 
Strong hand in hand it roams with Wish and 
Wonder, 
Till he who sought but one at length have found 
the whole. 

LXXXVI. 

How long ere that is found ! — fret not to take 

The untried station if beyond the reach : 
Accept self where it is, with it to make 

The best result there waiting deed and speech. 
'Tis life that brings the rest, oh youthful mother, 
To which you seek to mould your nervous 
child ! 
'Tis life, pale boy, you cannot be another ! 
You try what none can gain ! you mourn because 
beguiled ! 

LXXXVII. 

Long time past on : and, then, one summer eve 
Closed round our wanderer, worn with tramp 
and heat. 
Hard by an inn ; — " could its small size re- 
ceive ? — 
Or must he search some distant village 
street ? " — 
Such thoughts as these, a moment found him 
testing, 
Swift through the gate, but lingering on the 
lawn : 



236 SERVING: 

Across the path, like Eden's sword arresting, 
From open doors and blinds, a lengthen'd blaze 
was drawn. 

LXXXVIII. 

" A festive scene ! — The stranger here," mused 
he, 
" Were doubly stranger, with my heart of pain." 
Then did he stop ! and shudder ! — was it 
she? — 
No less a thought had roused such blood 
amain. 
Convulsed he gazed ! Who could have borne it 
mildly .'' — 
Looks ! deeds ! and, doubtless, words of love 
were there ! 
" Is this my wife indeed ? " he murmur'd wildly, 
" Am I a mortal yet ? or have I won despair ! " 

LXXXIX. 

He drew more nigh. — How strong art thou, oh 
Earth ! 
How hard the soul must strive that would do 
well ! 
Our paths divide ; the cause, a penny's worth ; 
One mounts above ; the other sinks toward 
hell. — 
There smirking, and behind the bar was sit- 
ting 
She search'd for years — behold Fidelity ! •^- 
Gross, vulgar, bloated, face and form emitting 
That flush where Flesh revolts from shameful des- 
tiny. 



A POEM. 237 

XC. 
Her comrade left her with adieu of mirth, 

To ask our wanderer's wish ; who answer'd : — 

"life! 

Tell me, man, tell — by all your soul is worth ! — 

Who ? what are you ? — and is that — that, your 

wife ? " — 

The inn-man started back ; and then, surveying, 

With a leer laugh of drunkard-wonder, said : 
" No jokes, my man, no jokes ! — my wife, you're 
saying ? — 
What, if a bar-maid sport, think you the devil's 
wed?" 

xci. 

" Devil ! " he gasp'd ; then turn'd, nor more in- 
quired : 
He did not look behind, nor look aside : 
His tottering limbs, oh ! they were very tired ! — 

A beggar stopt to spurn such lack of pride. 
"Think you the devil's wed?" one heard him 
sighing. 
As tho' 'twas all he thought about, for days: 
" Wed ! oh not wed," he groan'd " that's loos'd 
at dying : " 
And death would seem to come ; but harsh life 
woke the haze. 

XCII. 

Full clouds may empty soon : he found it so : 
And bow'd, but as an oak before the blast : 



93^ SERVING: 

Something is shaken off ; but more will grow : 

And life is stronger, when the storm is pass'd. 

Strange it may seem, but there is being, younger 

From chafing much through blows of blustering 

sway. — 

Desires, uncloy'd, for simplest sunbeams hunger : 

And live unrest contracts no mildew of decay. 

XCIII. 

He was not one to pause where questions win : 
And where did ample gossip fail the spell ? — 
" Ah yes ! the inn was known ; and all within : 
Full many a sober man who went there fell. 
The woman " — here they shrugg'd — " not too 
much squander'd 
Of worth in her, for him, they guess'd, or 
them. 
She mixt not with the village : and they wan- 
der'd 
Not far to seek her : — where's no glimmer, there's 
no gem." 

xciv. 

" Facts, facts ? " he ask'd ; as tho' the unseen 
truth 
Had mystery which could awe those social 
ways 
With charity right orthodox, forsooth. 

And vice or virtue, self neglect or praise. 
Facts found he none ; so turn'd, with wiser 
scheming. 
To wait, self-crown'd, an angel of defense. 



A POEM. JJ39 

Moved but for her ; he might be her redeeming : 
And tho' all else might doubt, he pray'd for confi- 
dence. 

xcv. 

He sought, and braved well, all there was to 
hear j 
As if, for her, his suffering could atone ; 
Then, once, in place where others were not near. 

Again he met her, face to face, alone. 
Wild was she first, with eyes whence hate was 
beaming ; 
Then pale became, too pale for his alarm ! 
There was a sigh ! a fall ! no more of seeming : 
Nature had conquer'd both ! he raised her on his 
arm. 

xcvi. 

Long was it ere he roused her from her swoon : 

And longer ere he calm'd affrighted blood. 
Then, when thought came, came groans to wake 
too soon, 
A wish for death, artd words, a muddled flood 
Pleading for pardon ; but, in end, more clearly 
Told long derangement ; then, with calmer 
voice : — 
" I would win back your gold ; I paid too dearly ; 
I delved too low, till shame, it left no other 
choice," 

XCVII. 

" Too much of choice," he thought, " God curse 
the claim ! " — 



240 SERVING: 

Then, waiting long : — " How hard it is to 
win ! " — 
And Mercy high bestow'd a kindher aim, 

To balance long intent 'gainst sudden sin. — 
" Nay," said he, " Memory, it shall blot forever 

This latter tale ; and read but earlier life. 
Trust to my care again ; naught, naught can 
sever 
The souls whom God has join'd : come back ; you 
are my wife." 

XCVIII. 

A moment, 'spite of misery, she smiled. 

Then, suddenly, " Nay ! " she exclaimed, " Nay ! 
nay ! 
Oh never shall your home be thus defiled !* — 
Think, think how I am changed ! — what Earth 
may say ! " 
Again he paused. — Forgive, he was not 
stronger : 
Truth halts just where too ready Falsehood 
hies : — 
He feels the truth too well, and feels it longer ; 
Altho', with mien becalm'd, he calmly thus replies : 

xcix. 

"What man may do, or say? — In younger years 
There was a time, this test was all to me. 

On Earth, I sought my goal, my hopes, my 
fears ; 
But could not find the whole I long'd to see. 

There came another day : my soul look'd higher, 



A POEM. 241 

To seek in Heaven what it miss'd in Earth : 
And blest therein ; but could not aye aspire ; 
And when I gazed around again, I knew of dearth. 

c. 

"There may be those whose feelings seem un- 
wise : 
I deem'd mine had a cause, — some fault, near 
by. 
Then would I pray ; then, pledged to effort, rise 

As tho' impatient work could satisfy. 
Last, He who has, 'spite all that priests have 
doubted, 
A human way of answering' every soul. 
Sent you, with purpose their false creeds have 
scouted. 
To match my partial life ; and make my manhood 
whole. 

CI. 

" What was there then which you were not to 
me? — 
Blest as a messenger from Good above. 
You brought me bliss : you bade my misery flee : 

You were a focus for all light of love : 
And, by that light, did purity gain whiteness : 
And aims, you deem I cherish, what could 
cheer : 
Ay, ay, from you, earth gather'd all its bright- 
ness ! 
And through your soul I look'd to find the Heaven 
dear ! 
16 



242 SERVING I' 

CII. 
" And that I shall forget this past, think you ? 

Shall life forget itself? — shade lighter sin 
By suicide ? — oh, trust me, Griefs pursue, 

As jockeys scourge, —to make the whipt steed 
win ! 
Behind, then, let us leave but things that 
smarted ! 
Keep love alone, and nothing can be loss ! 
Who looks beyond, 'mid wind and wave, true- 
hearted. 
These seas of woe wreck not! they speed his 
power to cross ! " 

cm. 

He waited \ then, with troubled heart, once 
more : 
" Come," said he, " we will seek Love's only 
throne." — 
And peace came, such as meets you, at the 
door, 
Oh world-wide wanderer, of a world unknown ! 
He pray'd for perfect love, with thought related 

First time in long, long seasons not alone ; 
Nor age that drank from youth was quickly 
sated 3 
But when he'd ceast, behold ! the cause of hope was 



gone ! 



CIV. 



And where was she? — The slow days cross'd 
the hills: 



A POEM. 243 

The loud storms rose, and fell, and rose 
again : 
And there was search anew, which naught ful- 
fills : 
And all was done, till all proved done in vain. 
At length, the third month brought with it a 
letter, 
Writ by a kindly doctor, known of yore, 
" She had been ill," he wrote, " but, now, 'twas 
better : 
Hers was that quiet home which Earth disturbs no 



cv, 

A final charge, she left : — " Untrammel'd still " — 
Her words were quoted — " live, with promise 
high : 
Claims there are, broader than our narrow will : 

Far better we should part now, you and I. 
For me, await dear children with no mother j 
And oh, so much I need to have reveal'd : 
There shall my poor life's failure vex no other : 
And there, God grant! at last, I'll look where all 
are heal'd. 

cvi. 

" For you, oh Husband, lingers better fate ; — 
Gain in this sphere, and gain in spheres to 
come ; 
Good, summon'd long, equipping through the 
state. 
And greater good, beyond Earth's battle drum. 



244 SERVING: 

Was I life's light ? — That middle light was 
given, 
When young, too young for truth mature to 
cheer: 
When old, what curse, tho' nothing's bright but 
Heaven ? — 
Farewell : with lives apart, but Jove forever 
near." '— 

CVII. 

My tale is told ; if ye whose eyes it meet 

Deem it a simple tale, so let it be : 
And think, once more, how many on the street 

Have lips, could tell a simple history ! — 
If ye have needed no experience ruder 

To crush a confidence of long complaint, 
Give thanks ! To one thus minded, life's In- 
truder, 
With blows that come to thresh, may winnow but 
the saint. 

CVIII. 

And would ye seek him whom these lines por- 
tray. 
Deem not his ways to mournful moods adjust. 
Ah no ! Life bringeth too a brighter day : 
Naught harms the soul, that does not harm 
its trust. 
For him, who still has faith for generous action. 

Full many a thankful eye bespeaks success ; 
Full many a thought that thrills the nobler faction ; 
Full many a social sphere that circles wide to 
bless. 



A POEM. 245 

CIX. 

The years speed on. He early toils and *late ; j 

Nor dreams he every gain from times to come : \ 

Oh, is not good equipping through the state? \ 

And is a useful life, a martyrdom ? — \ 

There are no tones from loving hearts now well- 

No faces, now, to cheer his lonely hearth ; 
But there are smiles, from source above dispell- , 

ing, I 

And all that is most bright, it comes from Heaven j 

not Earth. 



SI. 

O'ER life of the first poem years had past, 
Few years, yet in those few had grown a man 
The young store-clerk whose pen had further'd it. 
For those years had compress'd in pressing times 
So many long days' toils that took but one, 
So many friendships form'd in forming camps, 
So many crowded tramps toward victory, 
So many honors gain'd through single deeds, 
So many funerals for Faith to face, 
So many lonely tears of suffering, 
So much of Lie doom'd to eternal death. 
So much of Truth saved for eternal prime. 
That many a sire of threescore years and ten 
Told them, might weep his own as half a life ! 
Nor had the brave youth left that sea of war. 
Those stormy blasts, and death 'mid fire and wreck. 
For mildly murmuring rills of rhyme again, 
Ere the loud waves still roaring roar'd alone 
To bid all heed how near, how dear the port ! 
But then, with wounded limb, at home once more. 
With joy he'd join'd the poet in his praise, — 
Praise in the dawning of a coming peace, 
A song, not chirping low 'mid doubtful dusk, 
But lark's-like, trembling where to rest were heaven ! 



POEM SEVENTH. 



WATCHING. 



I. 



LIFE is one, whate'er the portion ; ease to 
play, or toil to plan, 
Joy or sorrow, haste or caution, all must blend to 

make the man : 
Youth to fail or age to prosper ; both to sink be- 
neath a blow; 
God is greater than disaster: life is one, not all 

below. 
It is one tho' lives be many; good or bad may 

rise or fall ; 
Honor droop, or treason flourish ; Love that right- 

eth, righteth all. 
Trust no greatness with a greater : man is strong, 

but God is strength : 
And the breath of the Creator wakes the dead to 

win at length. 
Howsoever lone the contest, do not dream Good 

moves apart : 
Mixt and hostile seem the summons ; one has only 

known the start : 
There's a blast whose sound is louder than an 

earthly trumpet-call : 



250 WA TCHING : 

In the end beyond each other, God alone is all in 

all. 
Life is one for stars or spirits ! from the oceans to 

the fires ; 
From the righteous blaze of Heaven to the gloom 

where Wrong expires. 
Trust the grandeur of disorder, and a grander Will 

to blend, 
God! the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and 

the End! 

II. 

Happy he whose steps can wander o'er the smoke 

of present strife. 
And, above distraction, ponder all the far results 

of life : 
Be he soldier, sage, or poet, it is he whose views 

sublime 
From that hight of central wisdom guide the cir- 
cling shifts of Time. 
Just as blest the humbler toiler who beneath, in 

battle black, 
Hearing voice of Truth Eternal, thence perceives 

the foe fall back : 
He as well with thankful spirit, 'mid successes 

swift tho' late. 
Learns to know the Source of victory; learning 

this, learns too to wait. 

III. 

He shall find life not all law : in nature, things 
not seen to grow ; — 



A POEM. 251 

Storms that slip the bars of sunshine ! meteors 

that strike fire through snow ! 
Thought that is not led by Logic! Proof that 

leaps the lines to show 
How the breath of Truth is stronger than the 

beatings of its foe ! 
There are mild Words that can waken fear ! and 

struggle ! and despair ! 
Tho' they leave no track behind them ; nor a 

shade to mar the air ; 
Do not glitter in the sunshine; do not thunder 

o'er the plain ; 
Do not flash the leaden lightning ; crowd no 

clouds to shroud the slain : — 
Words of Truth and Words of Godhead ! Words of 

Christ ! and every where 
When they sound the Lies that lurk in forms pos- 

sess'd of evil there 
Rend mistaken frames that held them ! leave each 

writhing on the ground ! 
Skulk aback to native darkness! sink below to 

woe profound ! 

IV. 

In the course of men and nations, there are times 

that are not blest, 
When the surface seems the substance, and forgot 

is all the rest : 
As the life is, so the thought is ; depth unsounded, 

truth in doubt, 
Groping men who touch each other learn to leave 

the spirit out. 



252 WATCHING: 

Clouds hang earthward ; and they nod, 'mid dreams 
that Heaven too is low : 

And they kiss the dust, half-hoping God an idol, 
worshipt so. 

Then comes need of revelation ; and the Truth 
that dwells above 

Sends the Light in ways that publish both its per- 
son and its love : 

'Mid the gloom the sun-bright chariot dawns and 
glances through the air. 

And the cheer of Faith awakens, just as most 
await Despair. 

v. 

Weaker souls who kneel to error, what are we to 

weep the truth, 
Cowards for another's vigor, laggards for another's 

youth ? 
AVhy should private gage a conflict by his danger 

or degree ? 
Wherefore fret impatient projects for an end he 

should not see ? 
In the work we have before us, what are we that 

we should live ? — 
Proud indeed to be permitted feeble succor still to 

give: 
Yet the poor man from his cottage, and the rich 

man from his hall 
Here fill equal spheres, the agents of the Lord 

who doeth all. 



A POEM. 253 

VI. 

Trust! altho' the tyrant prosper: 'tis the triumph 
of the Wrong 

Is its own tribunal ! Patience ! heed the plea, and 
watch the throng. 

You shall find in wrong more error than can make 
the wish unkind : 

When its spring is not the clearest, not the clear- 
est all the mind.. 

Working out through thought and action, wrong 
would earn an ill surcease, 

E'en tho' righteous Indignation ne'er did break a 
guilty peace ; 

E'en tho' Evil, grown presumptuous, did not force 
the test of power, 

Blow with madden'd lips the summons of its own 
worst fated hour; 

When, amid confusion thronging, comes stern Op- 
portunity, 

Sworn to punish for the present, proud to maim 
eternally ! — 

Who, with test of arbitration once submitted to the 
Lord, 

From one deed. His Love condemneth, dare with- 
hold the lifted sword ? — 

Oh ! I hail the crackling barriers of expedient com- 
promise. 

Pledge to Error that forswears them ! let them fall 
that Right may rise ! 

And I welcome on the war-cry when the true to- 
gether run ! — 



254 WATCHING: 

Hosts in Heaven seek truth together, every step 
and impulse one. 

It is Christ-like, God-like, dying for another's lib- 
erty ! 

Live or die, with right remaining, God remains ! — 
and victory ! 

VII. 

Even so, the Lord hath triumphed. High and 

wide, on hill and heath, 
Sprung and flash'd the sword long rusted, then, 

made bright, return'd to sheath. 
Friends, forgive too wild emotion. If the old man's 

joy appear. 
Let the truth, forever young, rejuvenate a frosted 

year ! 
'Tis not oft, the few souls searching Freedom, 

wandering in its youth 
Through the dim and direful pathways that en- 
snare the child of Truth, 
Have so soon, amid their doubting, found among 

their little band 
That unknown One, girded, silent, but immortal to 

command ; 
Or have seen their flickering torches pass'd along 

through all the dark ; 
Or have heard their own weak summons echoed 

loud from wild and park : 
Therefore, let us joy and worship : glory to the 

Lord and praise ! 
To the lost he brings salvation ! light illumines all 

the ways ! 



A POEM. 255 

VIII. 

Am I wrong ? — Oh say some prophet ? must I 

speak no Heavenly plan ? 
Tune, like Miriam, no praises for deliverance that 

I scan ? 
Trace I not the Spirit's leading, wheresoe'er a 

slave 's made free ? 
Or a free race threaten'd have maintain'd the 

cause of liberty ? 
Or is then that watchword rousing every age and 

every van. 
Liberty ! a lying instinct from the God who made 

the man ? — 
Nay, I err not : 111, there present, banish'd Adam ; 

outlaw'd Cain ; 
Cheer'd and cringed to Saul's oppression ; went, 

led captive o'er the plain: 
'Gainst the 111, Life moves to action, sway'd by 

words of Prophecy : — 
That "the bonds shall all be broken, and the cap- 
tives shall go free ; " 
Faithful still to Him who governs Heaven, and 

Earth, and age, and youth, 
Saints in rest, and men in motion, and the unity 

of Truth ! 

IX. 

There be those who limit promise to this smaller, 

earthly ball : — 
Life is one : on earth is but a germ, tho' still a 

germ of all. 



256 WATCHING: 

There be more who limit virtue to a place where 

all is bliss : — 
Life is one : the right in that life is the flower of 

right in this. 
Let me never aim for freedom, careless of one 

conscious chain : 
Law is one ; and Love appealing points to all 

woes that remain. 



I am old : my sleep is troubled ; and the course 

of daily Thought, 
Plunging into darkness, peoples all the night with 

what it sought : 
And, as weary eyelids close, to ope in realm of 

visions rare, 
It may be old age is childish ; yet I watch and 

wonder there ! 

XI. 

Once, I found a mortal struggling toward a lone 
isle of the sea, 

That, in such, no other's Will might breathe a threat 
to Liberty : 

First came peace ; but soon vain Fancy that had 
fought each rival's tone, 

Occupationless and restless, stirr'd revolt to Rea- 
son's throne: 

Mock'd the winds like human voices ! moved the 
shades like human forms ! 

And the leaves, like footsteps, rustled 'twixt the 
thunders and the storms ! 



A POEM. 257 

While the cynic, far from manhood, what was man- 
hood's self forgot. 

Curst the earth, and curst the heaven ; rest or free- 
dom had he not. 

XII. 

Then I saw a wiser instinct flowing forth unitedly. 
Where far people flock'd together at the cry of 

" Liberty ! " 
'Twas like thunder to the hill-sides, shaking seas 

from every spring; 
Roll'd like waves upon the ocean when the sailors 

cease to cling ; 
Till the mighty surf, swept onward, quench'd be- 
neath its hissing tide 
All the flaming guns that bellow'd from the towers 

of tyrant-pride ! 
Crash'd the walls with dread resounding ! — but 

the weary waters sank : — 
Fickle flood ! — where fell the ruin, rose a stouter, 

stonier bank. 

XIII. 

Then appear'd wise lords who ponder'd : — " Men 

with diverse wills to blend, " 

Men grow mad : let one be master ; let the dream 

of poets end." 
Spake they truth, or spake they error ? — sift the 

bran of heresy : 
Part is truth to tempt the cautious ; part is lie to 

poison by. — 
Truth or error, God had granted Saul but at the 

people's choice ; 
17 



258 WATCHING: 

Grants Oppression — ne'er till cowards whimper for 
a braver voice. 

XIV. 

Oh, ye statesmen, sages, soldiers, ye who watch 

the range of sight, 
Ye do well to name things " dreaming " which Phi- 
losophy calls " right ! " 
Dreams they are, for in our doing each one grasps 

the gains of earth. 
Selfish here, and there suspicious, cursing down his 

brother's worth ; 
Each a t}Tant of his corn-field, fencing up the last 

by-path. 
Whining out for laws t'uphold him, and restrain the 

neighbors' wrath. 
Man's own self it is that limits all the good that 

might be his : 
His own heart whose fears and failings keep the 

soul aback from bliss ; 
While his Wish would injure Love, just Conscience 

holds the Wish confined: 
And the statutes are the mirrors of the slave within 

the mind. 

XV. 

Yes ! we need that Earth grow wiser, ere prepared 

to have the true ; 
Thought for common weal to rule us, ere the lines 

of law be few ; 
That some Light from out the Heaven dissipate false 

shades of fear, 



A POEM. 259 

Ere we spy the worth of manhood, and how much 

in souls is dear ; 
And, above all, that which only can give true equality, 
Views of God, that in His presence human greatness 

cease to be ! 

XVI. 

Far above, I saw a Monarch, with a glory like the sun, 
And like stars his loyal subjects, for all brightness 

sprang from one : 
Where they moved, with His will prompting, came 

no check : — but one could see 
Every path, which lay wide open, led along Infinity. 
Plenty ripen'd there for all men, springs of joy, 

forever quaft. 
And their depths, which lost no ripple, closed above 

the largest draft. 
Then the people, earth's sad people, far without 

that realm of light, 
Crush'd by burdens, sinking prostrate, this was that 

which lured their sight ; 
This was that which from the distance roused their 

cheer for " Liberty ! " 
Right to deem it all of Heaven \ God ! and dearest 

destiny! 

XVII. 

Once, amid dread Sinai's wonders, through thick 
clouds and tempests driven. 

Came the Vision to the prophet, speaking change- 
less laws of Heaven. 

Earth with all of Israel trembled, yet those whom 
these laws restrain'd, 



26o WATCHING: 

Hearing truths, long vaguely guiding, knew 'twas 
Love had all explain'd : 

And the wise adored a standard, clear beyond all 
sophistry 

King or priest, with blinded conscience, to inter- 
pret wrongfully. 

XVIII. 

Once again was law explain'd, the mystery of its 

source and end. 
When the Sovereign Love appear'd, a man to follow 

as a friend, 
For the letter'd law the Spirit, Life to lure, through 

truth shown dear. 
Souls unconscious of constraining, from all goading 

conscience clear. 
Law remains ! but law's fulfillment, it can hush 

earth's long complaint : 
It is love for all of duty, moves oblivious of restraint. 
Till such come shall bonds protest against the 

crimes they would restore : 
Only Love can sway the land, yet open every prison 

door : — 
Self shall stir, 'mid jealous rulers, false aggression, 

falser pride : 
Only Love can govern justly where the wrongs of 

race subside. 

XIX. 

Joy it is, to know in all things that the deeds 

which seem our own, 
Struggling on to grand achievement, are not left to 

move alone. 



A POEM. ?6l 

All true living seems a circle, curving with mys- 
terious cord 

Up through wish and out through action, sweep- 
ing from and to the Lord. 

In the soul's profoundest being, when all worldly 
strife is still. 

Flames a power from inspiration, lighting the reluc- 
tant will : 

And the man who, in thick darkness, gropes to 
find a better day. 

By the red fire of his spirit reads some signals of 
the way : 

Nor pursues mere flash and shadow ! Oh ! to those 
who still aspire 

Comes a Word, a Light, dispelling dim delusions 
of desire. 

Happy he to whose ideal real good the spectacle, 

For the only holy aim must be the highest pos- 
sible ! 

When the Spirit's loving moves us, and the mist 
'fore Truth dissolves, 

Safe within a mystic orbit, doubly blest our course 
revolves. 

Then the Faith that waver'd looks back, restful, on 
the Infinite : 

Then the Hope, with eyes a-vacant, spies the 
Beatific Light ! 

Here is life's completed cycle ! here the long lost 
harmony ! 

Here awakes the soul's dear music ! here the bliss 
we pray shall be ! 

Out of it, the charm is broken, tangent-jarr'd to 
lone dismay. — 



262 WATCHING: 

Heaven, preserve us all from straying, guide our 

wish, and guide our way ! 
Match again the lost connection where creation's 

currents blend, 
God, the Alpha and Omega ! the Beginning and the 

End! 

XX. 

As in one life, so in many : no high purpose 

prompts a race. 
But above, some Revelation moves the headlights on 

apace : 
No forsaken germ is progress, growing from inhe- 
rent powers. 
But a trunk, ofttimes ingrafted, touch'd from Heaven, 

aside from showers. 
It was when God walk'd with fathers, that the sire 

was king and seer; 
When He spake from Sinai, then were oracles, and 

priests, and fear: 
With the later, ampler truth, revealing loyalty as love. 
Freedom grew a faith and flourish'd, nurtur'd by 

the skies above. 

XXI. 

And my soul has thought that Wisdom, tracing 

back the mighty plan. 
Might not scan in all of history more than marks 

the single man : — 
When the weakness of the infant first assays an 

appetite. 
Then maternal care that nurses finds the way, and 

names the right : 



A POEM. 263 

When the child has grown to manhood, looking 

toward Eternity, 
Rule and reason both must guide him toward a 

self-wrought destiny. 
There was age, in Earth's beginning, when the mind, 

which solved no cause, 
Knelt in reverence to commandment, and to holy 

text of laws : 
Comes an age, as Earth grows older, when the 

soul, 'mid wider light. 
Grasps the wonders of creation, and the wisdom of 

the right : 
God is Lord through independence ! Truth and 

Error, equally. 
Lure Experience into danger, that it learn humility : 
At the last shall Faith triumphant, freed for worthier 

worship, bend, 
Taught to know Who is Omega, Who Beginning, 

Who the End! 

XXII. 

Who are they whose deeds shall stand, the monu- 
ments to mark their time "i — 

Deeds of those who build with God, a structure 
strong for endless prime : 

All beside, with heat and bluster, splendid scaffolds 
only rear, 

Doom'd to fall, 'mid waste and wonder, when the 
unseen towers appear. 

XXIII. 

Well for earth did zealous leaders plan but to ful- 
fill the Word, 



264 WATCHING: 

That " the kingdoms of the earth shall be the king- 
doms of the Lord." 

Oh the Times might bound right onward : there 
are lights all down the track : 

Yawning brakemen fear for darkness ; and we jolt 
with war and wrack. 

Oh for power to rouse their torpor with a draft of 
heavenly health ! 

Oh for power to show the stations, gleaming far 
with waiting wealth ! 

Thanks to God, our ways are weakness : there is 
something wiser still 

In the steady wheels of progress than within a 

human will. 
Heaven, it is, controls the sunlight that shall wake 

each selfish dream ; 
And reveal to guilty slumber, good is nearer than 

may seem. 

XXIV. 

Hark ! e'en now the wind a-whisper ! and the men 

of active heart 
Spring to bear glad tidings forward, ere the day is 

seen to start. 
What to them is wild or ocean, care or loss, disease 

or death? 
What are thorns that vex the body to a life that 

lives in breath ? 
Lo ! by stranger-ears unheeded, long they cull from 

ancient tome 
Words to worthily speak out the worth of Truth to 

heathen home. 



-^ 



A POEM. 265 

But alas for lengthen'd effort ! what, to stupor. 

choicest words ? 
Deep-brought thought to superstition ? soul-sent 

eloquence to herds ? 
Oft in distant fields, 'mid shadows slowly lifting, 

one by one, 
Doubt on empty nest sits brooding o'er the things 

that have been done. 

XXV. 

Note again ! the light advances ! men, uprising 

o'er the plain. 
Spy along the far horizon broader fields for broader 

gain. 
Comes a wind of wider wielding : wakes a flutter 

o'er the strand : 
All the banners white of commerce pushing out- 
ward from the land : 
Stirs again a sound of struggle : wheels that beat 

the thwarted main ; 
Willful wheels that mount the mountain ; and that 

leap the lonely plain : 
Nerve-like wires that whiz and wander ; light that's 

burning through the sea ; 
Earth's united orb electric to one touch of sympathy ! 
Look ! long hosts of emigration, sweeping on with 

golden train. 

Wonder, worship, imitation, — harvests on the desert 

plain. 
Knowledge, Virtue, Wisdom come. Oh toil ye on, 

ye mission-souls ! 
Deeds are grander than Earth's planning : It is 

God who still controls ! 



266 WATCHING: 

Move thou on, bright Sun of Morning : burn the 

mists upon the hills: 
Flame against the frozen summits : flash adown from 

melting rills : 
Thaw the whited wastes above us : flood the plains 

to culture Worth : 
Rout the clouds, and leave but Heav'n *twixt man 

and God who gave him birth ! 

XXVI. 

Now comes day, that better dawning, when, from 
glance of waking eyes, 

Flit the dreams of present progress, pale their 
pageantries of lies. 

Come divines, and search the outlines of a sect 
that had a fame : 

Feel for phantom of the darkness : love is left with- 
out a name — 

Freer forms and more of feeling ; less of talk and 
more of deed — 

What the Bible leaves to manhood, leaving to the 
souls who read. 

Statesmen, come, and search the limits of a nation 
fear'd of yore : 

Clearer now the light beyond you : lo ! the shadows 
fold no more. 

Where those far, mysterious murmurs, movements 
of a dusky race ? 

Where are they? Who find the stranger meet the 
God-like face to face. 

More and more give way the barriers : one of feel- 
ing, one of thought, — 



A POEM. 267 

What is there to hinder all things that the strug- 
gling world has sought? 
What are plains and mounts and oceans, what are 

tongues to unity? 
Commerce, customs, institutions, have not all one 

destiny ? — 
When the time comes, righten evil, spite the selfish 

or the strong, 
Gog and Magog or the devil, — or conservers of 

the wrong ! 
When the time comes, there's a banner by the right 

to be unfurl'd 
Where the patriot of the nation stands the patriot 

of the world ! 
When the time comes, there's a Babel where shall 

sound one Master-call, 
And the people mount to Heaven, with the Lord 

there, all in all I 

XXVII. 

When the time comes, ah ! that future ! blessed be 

the eyes that see — 
Ay, and blessed they who hope it, free from earthly 

tyranny. 
From the world whose calmest living must be one 

long struggle here 
'Gainst the moulds that strain and shatter all that 

Nature's child held dear ! 
It shall need no simple logic, to reveal that rage 

of kings 
Holds no calmer rein to war than slaves who 

bear its sufferings ; 



268 WATCHING: 

Or to waken trust, where God gives wish for freest 
thought and speech, 

That the right is meant to prosper through a true 
regard for each. 

Long as anxious Progress lingers by the gate, with- 
out the keys. 

Vain attempt for equal love until the proud sur- 
render these. 

You shall find each older bigot sway the younger 
statesmen's skill. 

Grinding lesser wheels the closer, smooth to work 
the monarch's will : 

While there's dirty work to forward, speaking : — 
" Ignorance for the worst : 

Shut away the light of learning, lest they learn 
themselves accurst : " 

Long as fills the purse of Empire : — " Pet police 
and veteran ; 

Crush the grape, the more 's the yielding ; better 
money than the man : " 

If the wiser conscience question : — " Oh ! the 
priest 's ordain'd to rule ! 

What, tho' meant for darker ages ? — for the forms, 
preserve the fool ! " 

XXVIII. 

Where oh, where shall faith in broader honor to 

outweigh the small. 
Outweigh individual scheming, by intrusting power 

to all? 
Where shall states, with generous welcome, bidding 

all ambition rise, 



A POEM. 269 

Press around the growing infant truth to make 

each ruler wise ? 
Where shall Virtue seeking comrades, Worth the soul 

to breathe through speech, 
Learn to prize a loftier level where all hope 

exalteth each ? 
Truth ! the Infinite ! the All ! that rules through 

finite thoughts of man, 
Where shall it be sought and follow'd through the 

laws that all shall plan?-— 

XXIX. 

Lo ! there dawn'd a light about me : and a vision 

in my sleep 
Rose above the midnight vapors, and it floated o'er 

the deep : — 
Shell of alabaster brightness by an unseen impulse 

drawn. 
Speeding on three forms who journey 'd softly as 

the sprites of dawn : 
Beauteous stood the central figure, with her mild eyes 

on the sky. 
But with prayerful frame bent forward, eager, as 

for large reply : 
Just above her unbound ringlets, seem'd to gleam 

the morning star ; 
And within her burnish'd breastplate, mirror'd 

lands to glance from far : 
'Neath her left hand, turn'd averted, crouch'd the 

aged limbs of War, 
Yet he clutch'd his lightning-quiver, fierce as 

youngest conqueror; 



2 70 WATCHING: 

While, from harsh face gazing backward, wild his 

red eyes flared to see 
Dark Confusion linger slumbering on the limits of 

the lea : 
At her right hand, closely clasping, knelt the white- 
robed form of Peace, 
As a prince might kneel for crowning, or a saint 

before release ; 
With her free hand at her forehead, shielding the 

intenser glance 
Of a face that still spake : — " Patience ! " yet for 

ever spake : — " Advance ! " 
Where they moved, bright shapes before them sprang 

from out the sky and sea — 
All the golden Hopes of Heaven leaping to live 

Prophecy ! 
'Twas as though a grander nation, wash'd of preju- 
dice and pride. 
Past a newer, broader Jordan, rose upon a brighter 

side — 
'Twas a world that caught a glory, flash'd along 

from mount and isle — 
'Twas the Heaven itself unfolding where all nations 

throng'd the while — 
And a young Wind rose that whisper'd : — " Where 

shall man to man be true ? — 
With The Old is hard repentance ! Freedom hies 

to seek The New!" 

XXX. 

** To The • New ! " — I caught the accents ; and I 
gloried in the theme : 



A POEM. 271 

And I shouted it in slumber, so the cry awoke my 

dream. 
Then I found me old and feeble, faint, with so 

much work to do, 
" Ah ! " I moan'd : — " All things that falter, — what 

can live but in The New ? " 

XXXI. 

Oh, ye newer, truer Hearts, that beat in fresher 

ranks of life. 
Youth, brave youth, the cheer of present, and the 

strength of future strife ; 
Forms, whose steps are recreation, and whose very 

breath a joy, 
All unwearied from the pathways where this smoke 

and dust annoy ; 
Faces, bright to coming fortune, beauteous in the 

flush of zeal, 
Fixt and frosted not by winters that have chill'd 

first faith in weal ; 
Eyes, that proudly dodge contentment, free of wel- 
come for the strange. 
Not yet cower'd by cruel blows, nor disappointed 

past a change ; 
Souls, that ne'er have cring'd to failure, or surren- 

der'd flag of hope. 
But adown life's longest vista spy the Heaven, its 

only scope ; 
Do you know how tired Age rallies when it hears 

your bounding tread? 
How in your endearing presence every weaker Love 

has fled ? — 



2 72 WATCHING: 

* 

Age ! — I see the angels bending through this thick 

and troubled air ! — 
Ah, fair spirits, fresh from Heaven, without you, 

life were despair ! 

XXXII. 

Thanks to God, Life moves on with you ! Time, 

that rides to victory, 
Thunders past the fainting soldier, rousing thought 

of what shall be. 
So is Hope triumphant ever ! Life has had its fill 

of pain \ 
But the shade of Melancholy claspt me to her 

breast in vain. 
Phantom film of mortal making ! — what was she 

to hide the Heaven ? 
My weak hands that clutch'd despairing, as they 

stirr'd, beheld her driven. 
If there be one woe more dread in fabled realm 

where dawns no day, 
Where the nearing fumes of torment choke the 

laughter of the way, 
Where the greedy fires before one tear swift drafts 

from all the air, 
Till, like brute that bounds toward burning, sense 

be fever'd to despair, 
It is that, to him who seeks it, turning back from 

reckless fear. 
All the flames light up no outlines of a hope, of 

old, so dear. 



A POEM. 273 

XXXIII. 

Never, while these years are waiting larger earthly 
waste of man, 

With the strife for Heaven still raging, does the 
dark hide all the van. 

Howe'er thick the gloom have gather'd, howe'er 
fierce the missils be, 

Through the Thunder's trembling pathway glim- 
mers light for victory ! 

All above us, all about us, rift the clouds from 
prospects still, 

Aims of Hope that e'er abides to marshal on the 
loyal will ? 

xxxiv. 

Aims of Hope that moves to triumph ! triumph, 

not alone for youth. 
But for age, for all who worship immortality in 

Truth. 
Far above the under eifort, which these troubled 

ages know, 
Scans that wiser Trust that tells us : — life is one ; 

not all below. 
Where does Meditation ponder, Sorrow fold a whiter 

shroud. 
Conscious not of blessings nearer than through 

Time's long battle cloud ? 
Fancy, flying to her mission, shoots along the 

starry way: 
Reason follows on, beholding wider bliss the more 

they stray : 
18 



2 74 WATCHING: 

Both, with growing light bewilder'd, down to dark- 
ness fall — in vain \ 

Only wise in wishing wisdom ! failing but to fail 
again ! 

Still would Logic hold its centre ; still the Con- 
science claim its throne ; 

Age await the gates of Heaven ; and the soul 
maintain its own ; 

AH the loss of lower living trust to higher des- 
tiny, 

Even tho' no Revelation made them all a cer- 
tainty. 

XXXV. 

Ne'er can mortal wing his vision up within those 

bright abodes ; 
Ne'er can breathe that air seraphic ; ne'er can 

touch those shining robes ; 
Ne'er can press that hand, grown sacred from the 

heart whose work it plies ; 
Ne'er can watch the light of Heaven in those 

peaceful soul-lit eyes ; 
Ne'er can list to sweetest music, spell, where hush 

the angel-wings. 
Weird through mild, unconscious pathos which dim- 
dying memory brings : 
Never human foot has journey 'd o'er that dark and 

long abyss. 
Toward where hearts, new-nerved by loving, thrill 

the pulse to endless bliss : 
Seldom saintly guest has blest us down amid 

these vales below ; 



A POEM. 275 

Or, inspired by recollection, read a requiem to 

woe : 
Still we spy there changeless beauty: still we feel 

thence ceaseless charm, 
Drawing all the spirit from us, toward a home that 

knows no harm. 

XXXVI. 

Search the faith of all the nations : you shall find 

them by a sea, 
Peering off from earthly sorrow, toward far lands 

of mystery ; 
Where, as firmly trusts each mortal, for the soul 

that does his best. 
Gardens wait of endless plenty where an endless 

wish may rest. 
All embark : the mists are heavy : down they fall, 

the skiffs between. 
Dark-dividing every brother, shrouding every dear- 
est mien : 
Oh ! but when all, all shall follow, shall not some 

cross o'er the main ? — 
Fann'd be hopes that brighten being ! Heaven 

lures to naught in vain ! 

XXXVII. 

Hard we strive for deeds immortal ; but we die 

before our day : 
And the soul that plann'd for manhood falls a 

child amid its play : 
Deep we pant for rarer wisdom, higher views than 

Earth can give; — 



276 WATCHING: 

Shall we never, never find them, where the wish ful- 
fill'd may live? 

XXXVIII. 

Yes ! I know of skeptic sages, and of proof that 

cannot pray ; 
That along the lines of feeling jars a contradic- 

tive " nay ! " 
" Gaze," say they, " and search about you : earth 

is green ; and heaven is blue. 
In the morn, before you knew it, calmly rose the 

sun to view. 
Why should not the gentle vesper just as softly 

steal the day? 
Come, while sunbeams strew the meadows, let us 

dance along the way ; 
Hunt the Fruit in arbors blushing j and be sure 

when sinks the eve 
That our patient mother Nature shall these weary 

limbs receive. 
And, as sweetly as she roused us on the dreamy 

morn of life. 
Soothe exhausted powers to slumber, dead and 

consciousless of strife." 

XXXIX. 

Ah but Hope ! can it be stifled ? — Where that misty 

morn were you? 
Did the mother's first caressing wake one joy to 

conscious view? 
Whither then has fled the memory of that dear and 

doting voice ? 



A POEM. 277 

"Where the thought of those dull eyelids ? where the 

the sight that fixt the choice ? — 
What was mind? — a dawning glimmer scarce in 

babe yet manifest. 
What is mind ? — it spurns to slumber, tho' the 

body faint for rest. 
Down amid those grand reformers, see the elder 

leader swoon, 
What is mind ? — a life far stronger than in youth of 

blazing noon ! 
As the corpse the night frost withers, hark, the 

voice ! it is not loud ; 
But the troubled nations tremble ! sinks the soul 

within the shroud? 

XL. 

Trust me, mind is not like matter, moulded, weld- 
ed, multiple. 

Numb in snow, and sprung in sunshine, by the 
storms dissoluble : 

'Tis the breath of God ! a spirit snared to work 
these lobes of clay : 

'Tis the air that shakes the leaf, its home where'er 
a star can stray.! 

XLI. 

Where was nature prone to wasting? or one power 

without its need? 
Watch the brute, what fills his thinking ? — mate, 

and young, and rest, and feed : 
What the man's ? — alas ! you know it, how you 

tremble for the Fall : 



278 WATCHING: 

Hqw you tremble for the spirit, nor believe that 
death is all. 

Oh, ye souls, who feel the future, meditate Eter- 
nity, 

Doubt ye not that powers of being Nature's pur- 
pose verify ! — 

XLII. 

Or that deeds — 1 saw a maiden track a thorny 

desert wide : 
And I saw her face beam brighter, as she dash'd 

her tears aside : 
On and on, tho' stumbling often, with a gaze in- 
tent she sped ; 
While behind the path grew plainer from the blood 

her wounds had shed : 
Then she fell, and, sweetly fainting, said : " My 

soul no more shall roam ! " 
And, so smiling, left the body, which had borne 

her thus toward home ! 
Ah ! I felt that joy so real was a herald bright of 

Day, 
At whose break, like mists at dawning, only darker 

life gives way. 

XLIII. 

Justice rules the course before us ! nay ! the 

throng'd fatigues and pains, 
Which the patient martyr suffers, are not all that 

duty gains. 
Sounding through the dying whispers of the men 

who live for God, 



A POEM. 279 

Throbs a call to grander life ere casting off ex- 
pended sod. 

Oh ! I know, no whims in cloud are these bright 
towers beyond me spread : 

And life's fickle prow I steady toward the beacons 
overhead. 

All my love in them converging, what care I how 
strong the gale 

Speeding time when, not a stranger, I shall reef 
my shatter'd sail ! 

XLIV. 

If, too strain'd for earthly progress, age to weak- 
ness yield at length, 

Without gain or power to forward, wherefore should 
I weep for strength.? 

From a solitary Patmos could the promise of the 
Lord 

Still outvie a cherish'd mission, while one waited 
on His word: 

After life below promotion lifts to rest of regions 
higher 

With the Master-mind to witness how the Times 
attain desire. 

And, still in the life below, Faith, Faith which is 
eternal gain. 

Can outlive all disappointment, and make Wisdom's 
progress plain ; 

While the Beatific Vision bends to meet the rev- 
erent soul. 

And the shades of partial living hie from dawning 
of the whole ! 



28o WATCHING: 

XLV. 

Oh dawn thus, Thou Holy Spirit, Infinite, Un- 
changing Love, 

Power, Truth, Wisdom, Justice, Beauty, throned 
eternally above ; 

Father of all works and worship ; Father, Maker, 
Mover, Word, 

Source, and Sum, and Destination, but apart from 
all, and Lord ; 

Life of ages, which, like echoes floating from eter- 
nity. 

Spring through time to make Thy mandates mark'd 
to finite memory ; 

Life of spheres, where wandering wonders speak 
the praises of Thy dower, 

Flash'd from seas of snowy summits, and instill'd 
above the flower ; 

Life of man, whose upright image, high-aspiring 
from the dust, 

Looks to Thee, his pride, his pattern, his incite- 
ment, and his trust; 

Life of life's unresting current, bearing all souls 
dream, or are, 

Silent, swift, and broad, and blessed, toward eter- 
nal rest afar ; 

Thanks to Thee and adoration, that the mind, 
whose freedom hied 

In the first strange dread of duty from the sway 
it had not tried. 

Finds, 'mid rankest growth of doubting, naught 
to hide by human ill 



A POEM. 281 

Crystal touches of creation to reflect the Maker's 

will ; 
Wheresoe'er the danger threaten, that the lonely, 

trembling soul 
Ne'er can tear itself from purpose destined for the 

general whole ; 
Or from Him, whose grandest glory all things are, 

and e'er shall be ; 
Or from Perfect Love, which governs wisely tho' 

with mystery. 
Thanks, for Word of Inspiration, comfort, Christ, 

and Truth to prize ; 
And the golden fruit of ages ripening into Para- 
dise ! 
And oh grant. All Conscious Spirit, — and the very 

prayer is bliss 
Which can feel Thy nearing presence ere a word is 

formed of this, — 
From the minds of those who seek Thee, and rely 

upon Thy might. 
And on every loving token Thou has sent through 

all the night. 
Lift away the veils of darkness, till each watchful 

eye may trace 
Clearer, nearer to his vision, outlines of Thy des- 
tined grace; 
Woo mankind to feelings kindly; rouse to deeds 

of charity ; 
Rid of lies, that soul to soul may grow an image 

bright of Thee. 
Come at last, oh come, Lord Jesus, spreading worth 

from man to man ; 



282 WATCHING: 

Close the annals of confusion, draw the limits of 
the plan : 

Quickly come, Oh Holy Spirit, sanctify the waiting 
world j 

Burst the grander resurrection, from the earth be- 
neath it whirl'd ! 

Call immortal life to regions, whence all sin and 
sorrow fall ! 

Raise, to reign in endless union with Thy Love ! 
the All in All ! 

XLVI. 

And for him whose watch still lengthens, whatso- 
e'er report be brought. 

May he learn to wait, and doubt not of the glory- 
to be wrought ; 

Thankful for all wish, and action, thought,, or joy 
or misery, 

Life, and every hope which lingers that the life 
may honor Thee. 

Pardon him for ways that wander ; and for words 
that are not wise. 

And outweigh by contradiction all Thou canst not 
authorize. 

Strengthen him, whate'er his fortune, ceasing never 
more to do. 

But, in all his doing, trusting Thee alone to work 
the true. 

Bide with him when danger deepens, proof against 
the final test. 



A POEM. 283 

Looking not to earth beneath him, but above, for 
all his rest, 

Choosing, daring, doubting, learning, loving, serv- 
ing, watching, then. 

When shall come the great Deliverer, may he join 
the long Amen. 



I 
DO. ' 

THERE came a time at which the poet's friends, j 

Once more, from impulse swift of sudden joy, i 

Did meet with him. There, 'twixt the courses throng'd ; 

Of praiseful scenes, he spoke : i 

" Peace, peace has come i 

For our loved land and cause, not less, I feel, j 

Than for the soul whose thought, these busy years, j 

Your kindness has found seasons to assist. 

A weakness that has task'd your aid so long, I 

Dare it request one further service now ? j 

A deed as dear to it as psalms of peace • 

To chief who dies 'mid dreams of work complete ? — 
I would intrust to you, dear friends, whate'er ! 

Our mutual memories of life have gain'd. .; 

Ah, we have found no Christ, only a man, | 

Weak, ignorant, bias'd, rash, ambitious, proud. 

One prone to err, oft tempted from the right, • 

And yet train'd toward the good, as we may hope. 
Because of pure Wish rear'd in a free land ! 

Where only God's laws check development ! i 

And if the tales do mirror forth true life. 
From them, perchance, some may, as from true life, — 
Told too through lips of a confiding friend, — .'. 

Trace wiser ways than man's ; the mirror held J 

Not as a glass to children smiling still, i 

Fond of vain likeness, but as a kindred heart j 

Whose struggling life-throbs render likeness love, 

Whose faults, tho' strong, train struggle, and, with it, j 

That one thing worthy here, a worthy Wish. ; 

Yes, like the fount of Massah, moved by God, 



286 CONCLUSION. 

I do believe that wish may spring t'revive, 

Some germs that lurk e'en in the rock ! flow thence 

To make the barren desert bloom ! all earth 

A habitable home ! 

" And you, dear friends, 
You who have aided much, since all the truth 
Seems half-truth without setting, will, perchance, 
Add when how and by whom these tales were penn'd. 
And if in aught Truth did bend modestly 
To welcome in a mood inspiring it, 
More whimsical with youth, more wise with age, 
Truth, thus, may've gain'd in power to influence, 
In form to make verse fitted for its aim — 
To wake an inspiration through the world; 
To rouse for music of a life complete 
Some weary souls that turn aside from care, 
'Mid restful musings on ideal good. 
To read what pleases and may profit them. 
God crown such aims ! — and then, with growing worth, 
Altho' these tales be told of one alone, 
Their spirit shall speak life for more than one." 



